US Army Test Fires Missiles From Multi-Mission Launcher

The US army successfully launched three missiles from the Multi-Mission Launcher(MML) Launch Demonstration Unit.

The Army's Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept Product Office conducted the launches with support from the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC), the US army announced in press release on Monday.

The three missile launches included an Air Intercept Missile 9-X that intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle after launch. A Low Cost Active Seeker and a Mini Hit-to-Kill interceptor were also successfully launched and flew ballistic trajectories. 

The successful firing of the missiles served to verify the tube integrity and missile stack integration of the MML. The IFPC Inc 2-I program remains on schedule to conduct an engineering demonstration in March 2016. 

The AMRDEC MML Program is designing, fabricating and will deliver two MML prototypes for integration into the IFPC Inc 2-I system during the technology maturation and risk reduction phase of development.

The MML is a next generation air defense launcher that is built on open system architecture and will have the capability to launch a variety of interceptors for comprehensive air defense against a variety of unmanned and cruise missile threats. The Army plans to field the system in 2019. 

James Lackey AMRDEC Director said, "MML will be critical in providing expanded ground troop area protection capabilities by enabling kinetic kill lethality effects against a variety of advanced, airborne incoming threats. 

The unique government-to-government relationship between the IFPC Inc 2-I Program and the MML Program is on schedule and on budget to deliver two prototypes for use in the engineering demonstration.