Nemesis missile racks up successful flight tests

Lockheed Martin has announced that the Nemesis missile has demonstrated three successful flight tests at White Sands Missile Range to show its launch, guided flight, target acquisition and precision strike capability.

The first two tests saw the Nemesis perform ‘flawlessly’ according to the company, destroying the intended targets. In these tests Nemesis demonstrated vertical launch, GPS navigation to targets located at distances of eight and 12km, engagement by the missile’s semi-active laser (SAL) seeker and live warhead detonation. In the third flight, vertical launch of an inert round was demonstrated, followed by GPS-only navigation to a target positioned just 100m away.

Nemesis is a man-portable, surface-launched missile that enables warfighters to engage targets with precision lethality from as close as 100m to well beyond line of sight. The missile can be employed during dismounted operations as well as be adapted for employment from various ground, maritime or airborne platforms.

Nemesis is fired vertically from its launch tube, enabling 360-degree engagement capability. A combat-proven rocket motor, deployable wing and GPS guidance enable the missile to engage targets in excess of 12km. The missile’s SAL seeker activates in the terminal phase of flight to provide precision accuracy and minimise collateral damage. The user is also able to select height of burst or point-detonation fuzing options to optimise lethality against enemy personnel, light armoured vehicles and structures.

Frank St. John, vice president of tactical missiles and combat maneuver systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said: ‘Nemesis provides critical performance to forward-deployed troops in response to a stated warfighter capability gap. Warfighters must be able to trust that the weapons they deploy will deliver the intended effects every time. Our three-for-three flight tests demonstrate the missile is reliable and lethal.’

The system’s ability to be deployed from airborne Common Launch Tubes fulfills existing Special Operations Forces and US Marine Corps requirements for a standoff precision guided munition. The missile can also be configured for internal or external carriage on other fixed- and rotary-wing platforms.