The Common Missile is a key to the Army transformation effort and is therefore a 'must fund' program. The Modernized Hellfire is intended to be the baseline program in moving toward a common chemical energy missile in the future. The Common Missile is to replace both the Hellfire and TOW and will be backward compatible with legacy platforms. Furthermore, the Common Missile will be used not only on Army rotary aircraft and ground systems, but also on fixed-wing aircraft. In the mid and long term, technology insertion will take place through evolutionary acquisition.

Both the Ground to Ground and Air to Ground Operational Requirements Documents (ORD) were consolidated into the Common Missile ORD, for which the suspense (TRADOC) is the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2001 (1QFY01). As the Army is seeking technology integration opportunities across the government and industry spectrum, significant cost savings are expected primarily in the production and sustainment phase. The intent is to have two system contractors for maximum competition in the production phase.

The Army's inventory of TOW 2A, TOW 2B and Hellfire missiles will be replaced by 73,000 Common Missiles, with low-rate initial production scheduled for fiscal 2008 and first unit equipped in fiscal 2010. CM will be a chemical energy missile for use in both ground and air-to-ground applications. CM will also use Simulation and Modeling computer models, designs and simulations as deliverables, which will be used to assess technology and system integration levels of maturity.

Among the CM's key performance requirements will be that it will engage critical, high-value targets at increased standoff ranges. In terms of logistics and support, CM will have embedded diagnostics and training. It will also leverage the Research Development and Engineering Center's advances from the Future Missile Technology Integration effort, including controllable thrust propulsion. CM's technological advances will include a tri-mode seeker: semi-active laser, millimeter wave radar and focal plane array radar. CM's physical configuration is expected to be six inches in diameter, 50 inches long and weigh no more than 70 pounds.

CM fully supports the Army chief of staff's initiative to achieve first-round kills with smaller-caliber solutions. CM also supports the battlefield commander's operational and logistics flexibility, by providing a common-caliber system for both air and ground use, while achieving life cycle cost savings. CM will also have a reduced logistics footprint and maintain overmatch lethality, with increased range.

Common Missile will to use technology insertion through evolutionary acquisition. The evolving threat requires more capable missile systems, and aging stockpiles and shelf-life expiration dates are fast approaching. So CM not only has to be future-oriented, but also will need to be backward compatible with legacy platforms.

In the objective force, a common missile load on the Comanche will provide 480 pounds back to the airframe. That weight trade, in turn, can be used to increase the performance and provide additional fuel on board the aircraft.

A key CM goal is to maintain competition throughout the program so that the government can be assured of always getting the best value. In addition to having a signed Memorandum of Understanding with the United Kingdom, the program also hase a signed Joint Integrated Operational Requirement Document, that will include Navy and Marine Corps participation.

With the recent awarding of $13,172,200 in Common Missile contracts, the PEO for Tactical Missiles is moving forward in its CM development efforts. Raytheon, Tucson, Ariz., Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Fla., and the Boeing Company, Huntsville, have begun risk reduction, concept and technology development work which will be complete in fiscal 2003. At that time the Program Executive Office will evaluate the capabilities to build the Common Missile.