Low Cost Autonomous Attack System

The Low Cost Autonomous Attack System (LOCAAS) was a loitering attack munition developed for the United States Air Force (USAF). In 1998 the USAF and U.S. Army Lockheed Martin began to examine the feasibility of a small, affordable cruise missile weapon for use against armoured and unarmoured vehicles, materiel and personnel, and if so develop a demonstration program. The program cost approximately $150,000,000; the cost per unit was calculated to be $30,000 based on a production of 12,000 units before cancellation.

After being launched from a weapon platform, it is guided by GPS/INS to the target general area, where it can loiter. A laser radar (LIDAR or LADAR) illuminates the targets, determines their range, and matches their 3-D geometry with pre-loaded signatures. The LOCAAS system then selects the highest priority target and selects the warhead's mode for the best effect.

The LOCAAS program was cancelled.

Specifications

 * Weight: 100 lb
 * Length: 36 in
 * Speed: 200 kn
 * Search altitude: 750 ft
 * Footprint: 25 sqnmi
 * Motor: 30 lbf thrust class turbojet.
 * Range: >100 nmi
 * Loiter time: 30 min max.
 * Guidance: GPS/INS with LADAR terminal seeker
 * Warhead: 7.7 kg (17 lb) multi-mode explosively formed projectile (long rod penetrator, aerostable slug or fragmentation)