- Lockheed Martin completed the first live fire and vertical launch test of a HELLFIRE missile from its GRIZZLY containerized launcher system
- The GRIZZLY launcher is designed as a mobile, container based platform using existing architectures to enable distributed and low footprint missile deployment
Lockheed Martin on March 24 said it had completed the first integrated live-fire and vertical-launch test of a HELLFIRE missile from its new GRIZZLY containerized launcher.
The company said the test demonstrated the system’s ability to load and launch a missile from a standard 10-foot Tricon container.
Containerized systems are being explored as a way to deploy precision fires from less predictable locations while maintaining compatibility with existing munitions.
The GRIZZLY launcher was developed in six months using existing weapon and launcher architectures, including the fielded M299 launcher system. The company said the system is designed to provide a mobile and low-observable method of delivering missile fires in expeditionary environments.
As noted by Lockheed Martin, the test validated the system’s launch capability by meeting all planned requirements. The company said the data collected during the live-fire event will support further development and refinement of the launcher in coordination with the U.S. government.
The GRIZZLY system is designed to use commercial off-the-shelf materials, which the company said helps reduce acquisition costs and simplify logistics. Lockheed Martin also said the launcher is intended to be command-and-control and sensor agnostic, allowing it to integrate with a range of targeting systems and operational networks.
“This is an example of how our Lockheed Martin team is leading innovation for our customers’ needs,” said Randy Crites, vice president of Lockheed Martin Advanced Programs. “Our first live fire tests come just six months after the program began research and development, through internal Lockheed Martin investment, demonstrating our focus on quickly delivering a mobile and versatile launcher capability to defeat evolving threats.”
Crites added that, “GRIZZLY provides the customer versatility and flexibility for their needs, as well as an element of mobility and discreteness for offensive and defensive fires.”
The GRIZZLY launcher is built around a containerized format that allows it to be transported using standard logistics infrastructure, including trucks, ships and other platforms capable of handling Tricon containers. Once deployed, the system can launch HELLFIRE missiles, which are widely used precision-guided weapons typically associated with helicopters and unmanned aircraft.
By adapting the HELLFIRE missile for a ground-based, containerized launcher, the system extends the use of an existing munition into a new operational role. That approach allows forces to rely on established supply chains while expanding how and where the weapon can be employed.
The vertical-launch capability demonstrated in the test indicates that the system can fire from a compact footprint without requiring a traditional launcher configuration. This can allow placement in constrained or concealed locations, depending on operational needs.