Army asks to cancel NLOS-LS ($466K per missle)

[unhappycamper]

The NLOS-LS was originally part of the Future Combat Systems program.


Army asks to cancel NLOS-LS
By Kate Brannen - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Apr 23, 2010 15:00:02 EDT

After completing a review of its precision fires portfolio, the Army is recommending the Defense Department cancel the Non-Line of Sight Launch System (NLOS-LS) program.

Army senior leaders decided on the move at a Thursday meeting, according to sources. Because NLOS-LS is an acquisition category 1 program, Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter will have the final say.

Originally part of the Army’s Future Combat Systems program, NLOS-LS is also intended for the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship. It is being developed by Netfires LLC, a joint venture between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, which builds the system’s container launcher unit.

~snip~

The NLOS-LS Precision Attack Missile failed to hit its target four out of six times during a flight-limited user test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., between Jan. 26 and Feb. 5. The Army determined that fixing the system’s problems would delay the program more than a year and keep it from being included in the first brigade set of Increment 1 equipment of the Brigade Combat Team-Modernization program, Maj. Gen. Keith Walker, commander of the service’s Future Force Integration Directorate, told reporters in Fort Bliss, Texas, earlier this month.

~snip~

In the Army’s budget request for 2011, each Precision Attack Missile costs $466,000. Once the missile reached full-rate production, both the service and industry expected that number to fall. Raytheon said in a March letter to the Army that the company planned to reduce the average unit production price to $198,000 for the Army’s acquisition objective of 9,942 missiles.

[old mark]

1. This must be a real barking dog if the Army doesn't want it....

Costs a half million a shot and misses 4 times out of 5?

Junk it.

m