The Army Tactical Missile System (Army TACMS) is a family of long-range, near all-weather guided missiles fired from the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) M270 launcher and deployed within the ammunition loads of corps MLRS battalions. The Army TACMS provides the joint task force (JTF) and corps commanders an operational fires capability for precision engagement of the enemy throughout the depth of the battlefield beyond the range of currently fielded cannons and rockets. It delays disrupts, neutralizes or destroys high payoff targets such as combat maneuver units, surface to surface missile units, air defense units, command/control/communications sites and helicopter forward area rearming/refueling points. The Block IA is an upgrade intended to double the range of the current Army TACMS Block I missile. Army TACMS Block IA will dispense M74 Anti-Personnel, Anti-Materiel (APAM) bomblets, as does the Block I. The Army TACMS Block IA's ability to engage the enemy at extended ranges will reinforce the dominant maneuver force by helping the JTF commander shape the battlespace.

The genesis of Army TACMS can be traced to the "Assault Breaker" technology demonstration program begun in 1978 by the Defense Research Projects Agency. Formally started in 1983 as the Joint Tactical Missile System, the project combined two earlier studies?the Army's Corps Support Weapon System and the Air Force Conventional Standoff Weapon?into a joint program. Following the end of Air Force on-site participation in 1984, the Army continued the program and changed the name. Army TACMS is the first weapon system to be fielded in the modernization program for a "system of systems" deep fires suite. It saw combat action in Southwest Asia (SWA) during Operation Desert Storm (ODS).

One of the outstanding success stories of Desert Storm, fielding of the Army TACMS was accomplished ahead of schedule in August 1990 using the initial operational test and evaluation (IOTE) unit, the 6/27th Field Artillery (FA) Battalion from Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The unit was initially deployed to SWA with the XVIII Airborne Corps, but A Battery, one of the unit's two Army TACMS-capable firing batteries, was later placed under the operational control of VII Corps. It was this battery which on 18 January 1991 launched the first two Army TACMS missiles ever to be fired in combat. Production of the system was accelerated in order to meet the ODS requirement. A total of 105 Army TACMS missiles were deployed to SWA, 32 of which were successfully fired against surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites, logistics sites,artillery and rocket battery positions, and tactical bridges. According to LTG Thomas J. Kelly, Director of Operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the Army TACMS in SWA was "...spectacularly successful. We...[used] it in certain efforts which [were] extremely high priority. It ...really delivered."

Through the cooperation and dedication of the Army TACMS Project Office, the prime contractor, and the contracting officer, Army TACMS production was accelerated to support ODS. On 15 September 1990, the production contract was modified to accelerate the delivery of 20 M39 Guided Missile and Launching Assemblies from CY 1991 to CY 1990. The contract was modified again on 28 January 1991 to accelerate delivery of another 48 M39s to be completed by May 1991. When Operation Desert Shield began in August 1990, the Army only had 20 Army TACMS missiles in its inventory. By the end of the ground war, however, LTV [the prime contractor] had assembled and shipped 105 missiles to the Middle East.

Between August 1990 and February 1991, LTV also responded on short notice to multiple requests to accelerate deliveries of Army TACMS spare parts and divert shipments of M39s for delivery to SWA in support of ODS. In addition, the contractor provided support to the Army Depot in Germany so that checkout and repair of the M39s could be accomplished quickly and returned to Saudi Arabia with minimal delay. Not only were the aforementioned accomplishments achieved with a system in an early production phase but this successful effort was completed without sacrifice to the reliability and integrity of the missile system. In fact, the Army TACMS proved to be one of the most outstanding high- tech systems deployed to SWA.

Army ACAT IC Program
800 systems
Total program cost (TY$) $658.6M
Average unit cost (TY$) $0.82M
Full-rate Production 2QFY98

Prime Contractor
Lockheed Martin Vought Systems





Guidance and Control Section (GCS). The GCS provides all navigation, guidance, autopilot, and internal communications functions for the Army TACMS missile while in flight and for all ground operations. Continuous determination of position, attitude, and motion are provided by the inertial sensors, associated electronics, and software processing. Guidance and autopilot functions are provided by software processing within the GCS computer. All communications, both internal and external to the missile (missile to launcher and/or ground support equipment), are provided by the GCS electronics and software. This includes communications with the M270 FCS electronics for launch control, the ground support equipment for maintenance, and the control system electronics unit (CSEU) for missile fin actuator control.

Propulsion Section. The solid rocket motor furnishes the energy necessary to launch the missile and sustain missile flight for a sufficient time to meet Army TACMS altitude and range requirements. The solid rocket motor consists of a motor case, propellant, insulation/liner, nozzle, and igniter arm/fire assembly.

Control Section. The primary functions of the control section assembly are to position the missile fins, provide the missile electrical power while in flight, and support selected pyrotechnic functions.

Warhead Assembly. The primary function of the warhead assembly is to carry, protect, and dispense the missile payload. The warhead assembly consists of a rolled aluminum shell with aluminum support structures and front and rear bulkheads. A center tube connects the bulkheads and provides a central wire route. In addition to the payload, the warhead assembly contains a skin severance system which controls the release of the payload at the required time.

The M39 Missile Warhead is used against personnel and soft targets normally with a TLE of 150 m or less. Larger TLEs may reduce effectiveness. Each missile dispenses a cargo of approximately 950 antipersonnel and antimateriel (APAM) M74 grenades over the target area. Warhead event is initiated by an electronic time fuze (M219A2) that is set in the same manner as the M445 electronic time fuze of the M26 rocket. The fuze detonates shaped charges mounted to the skin and bulkheads. This in turn severs the skin. By means of centrifugal force and airstream currents, the M74 grenades are distributed over the target area. Arming of the M74 grenades is accomplished by the spin action which is induced on the individual grenade. The M74 grenade is filled with composition B explosive filler and is covered by a steel shell. Upon impact and detonation each grenade breaks up into a large number of high-velocity steel fragments that are effective against targets such as truck tires, missile rounds, thin-skinned vehicles, and radar antennas. This submunition is not effective against armored vehicles. The M74 grenade also contains incendiary material and has an antipersonnel radius of 15 m.

Army TACMS Block I:
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION:
The Army Tactical Missile System (Army TACMS) resulted from a need to engage high priority targets at ranges beyond those of existing weapons. The Army TACMS Block I replaces the conventional Lance system. Block I is a ground launched, deep fires missile system consisting of a surface-to-surface guided missile with an anti-personnel/anti-materiel (APAM) warhead consisting of approximately 950 M-74 bomblets.

The missiles are fired from the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) modified M270 launcher. The missiles are deployed within the ammunition loads of corps MLRS battalions and/or division artillery batteries. The Army TACMS includes guided missile and launching assembly, test set, guided missile system, training set, guided missile system: M165, trainer, test device guided missile: M70, modified M270 launcher, and Army TACMS missiles facilities.

SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS:
The Army TACMS Block I is a semi-ballistic missile with an APAM warhead that contains approximately 930 M-74 bomblets. There is 1 missile per guided missile and launching assembly and 2 missiles per launcher load. The missile will engage targets throughout the corps area of influence and is designed to destroy tactical missile launchers, suppress air defense, counter Command, Control, and Communications (C3) complexes and disrupt logistics.


MISSION:
Provides deep fires in support of deep attack/precision strike operations.
Target Set: 2nd Echelon Maneuver Units; Air Defense Units; Command and Control Sites; Surface-to-Surface Missile Units; Forward Area Refueling
Resupply Points (FARRPS).

The Army TACMS Block I missile underwent IOT&E in 1990. The most significant deficiency noted in the DOT&E BLRIP report that followed the IOT&E was that the Army did not demonstrate the ability to conduct target acquisition at the Block I engagement ranges. However, DOT&E assessed the system to be operationally effective, and the system entered full-rate production. Army TACMS Block I was deployed and fired in Operation Desert Storm.

Army TACMS Block IA
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION:
Army TACMS Block IA is an extended range variant of the Army TACMS Block I missile. The Block IA effort entails integrating an onboard Global Positioning System (GPS) with antenna and software into an inertial navigation system and reducing the Block I payload from 950 M-74 bomblets to approximately 300 M-74 bomblets to achieve the required accuracy and extended range. To compensate for the reduced payload, the accuracy of the missile has been improved with inflight GPS updates. If GPS is rendered inoperable, the Army TACMS Block IA reverts to inertial guidance only and maintains Block I accuracy. The missile is fired from the Improved Position Determining System of the M270 "deep strike" launcher and the M270A1 launcher with the improved fire control system (IFCS) and improved launcher mechanical system(ILMS).

SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS:
Army TACMS Block IA is a semi-ballistic missile that provides near all weather, day and night, precision strike capability at ranges beyond existing cannons, rockets, and missiles. Block IA uses the guided missile control and propulsion systems of the Army TACMS Block I missile. The Block IA warhead will use a majority of the Block I warhead components except the payload of anti-personnel/anti-materiel (APAM) M-74 bomblets will be reduced in the Block IA to extend its range. Block IA uses an improved version of the Army TACMS Block I Missile Guidance Set (IMGS) to achieve the improved accuracy needed to meet the Block IA system requirements for mission accuracy. The IMGS uses an embedded GPS receiver (EGR) to receive and process GPS satellite navigation signals and integrate the GPS data into the inertial guidance scheme to improve navigational accuracy. There is 1 missile per guided missile and launching assembly and 2 missiles per launcher load.

DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
Prior to completion of the MLRS Improved Fire Control System (IFCS), the M270 launcher requires modifications that include the installation of an interim improved positioning and determining system (IPDS) and an interface for connecting a KYK-13 cryptographic loading device. The IPDS, the positioning and navigation unit of the future IFCS, employs ring laser gyros, force-rebalanced accelerometers, and the GPS to provide launcher location and navigation data. The Army will field one battalion of IPDS-equipped launchers until IFCS is fielded in the M270A1 launcher program.

In April 1996, the PEO Tactical Missiles conducted a Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) review of the program and authorized procurement of 70 Block IA missiles. The Army conducted three missile launches prior to the LRIP review, and five additional missile firings in the formal developmental testing between February and October 1996. The IOT&E, consisting of a ground phase at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and a two-missile live firing phase at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, was conducted in August and September 1996. Live Fire testing, consisting of an arena test (22 M74 bomblet firings) and two end-to-end missile firings (one DT shot against a 9-target array and one OT shot against a 15-target array), was completed in September 1996.

During 2QFY97, DOT&E completed its assessment of the Army TACMS Block IA and participated in the Integrated Product Team preparations for a March 1997 Army Systems Acquisition Review Council Milestone III decision. Problems identified in the Army's and DOT&E's assessments caused the Army Acquisition Executive (AAE) to delay the Milestone III decision until 2QFY98, and grant approval for a second LRIP contract award for 97 missiles.

The Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) is coordinating a sensor-to-shooter assessment to determine the Army's capabilities to detect targets at the Block IA ranges and to process that information in a timely manner. They have established a General Officer Steering Committee to monitor progress of the assessment. The GOSC includes the Deputy Under Secretary of the Army for Operations Research; the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations?Force Development; The Deputy for Systems Management; the Program Executive Officer (PEO) Tactical Missiles; PEO, Intelligence and Electronic Warfare; Commandant, U.S. Army Field Artillery School; Commandant, U.S. Army Intelligence Center; and Commanding General, U.S. Army Operational Test and Evaluation Command.

Program Manager (PM), Army TACMS, is sponsoring an excursion to a Joint Staff study of Joint Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (JSEAD) in a Southwest Asia scenario. The excursion is intended to demonstrate the inflight survivability of the Block IA in an active threat air defense environment. If necessary, TRADOC will update the Cost and Operational Effectiveness Analysis based on the study's determination of missile survivability.

PM, Army TACMS, sponsored additional live fire testing to improve characterization of M74 bomblet effects against the threat targets. Those tests include employment of a live warhead against trucks and fuel containers, and arena testing to characterize bomblet pyrophoric effects against targets configured with fuel and ammunition.

After analysis of the IOT&E, LFT&E and flight test data which were generated in accordance with the approved TEMP, DOT&E assessed the Army TACMS Block IA to be not operationally effective, and not operationally suitable as tested. The DOT&E assessment was based on deficiencies in the target acquisition system at Block IA ranges, missile performance, bomblet lethality, missile inflight survivability and reliability. The Army's conclusion was that ATACMS Block IA was suitable and marginally effective. The AAE's Acquisition Decision Memorandum (ADM) stated that a favorable decision at the Milestone III will be contingent on addressing the following issues.

Using Joint Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) architecture, can the Army consistently demonstrate the ability to detect and locate targets with the required accuracy at the extended range of the Block IA system, and then provide the targeting data to the Deep Operations Coordination Cell in a timely manner?
Can the Army demonstrate the ability to achieve the required level of effects on all of the Block IA Operational Requirements Document (ORD) targets?
Can the Army demonstrate, through modeling, inflight survivability when attacking the ORD targets in a realistic operational scenario?
Can the overall missile reliability (inflight and prelaunch), and launcher reliability requirements of the Army TACMS Block IA system be achieved during the life of the system?
The cause of the low prelaunch reliability was identified to be a problem in the launcher Global Positioning System software which affected the transfer of a precision timing signal to the missile. The Army corrected the problem and tested the corrected software in January demonstrating that the software performed as intended. On 25 June and 03 December 1997 they further demonstrated the fix with successful test flights.

Army TACMS Block II
Increased funding for Stryker and Future Combat Systems (FCS) came as a result of Army decisions in 2002 to terminate or restructure some 48 systems in the FY ?04-?09 Program Objective Memorandum (POM) long-term spending plan. Among the systems terminated were: United Defense?s Crusader self-propelled howitzer and the A3 upgrade for the Bradley Fighting vehicle, GD?s M1A2 Abrams System Enhancement Program, Lockheed Martin?s Army Tactical Missile System Block II and the associated pre-planned product improvement version of Northrop Grumman?s Brilliant Anti-armor (BAT) munition, Raytheon?s Stinger missile and Improved Target Acquisition System, and Textron?s Wide Area Mine.

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION:
The Block II Army Tactical Missile System for the Army is a long range, all weather, day/night, tactical missile designed to defeat critical high pay-off targets in support of Corps level deep operations. The Block II variant is a pre-planned product improvement (P3I) to the Army TACMS Block I and IA missile systems specifically designed to kill moving armored targets and surface-to-surface missile (SSM) transporter erector launchers (SCUD TELs). The Block II carries 13 BAT or P3I BAT brilliant submunitions. The Block II carrying the basic BAT is designed to destroy critical moving armored formations such as a reserve tank battalion moving from assembly areas in the enemy's rear. The Block II equipped with P3I is designed to seek out and destroy both stationary targets, such as the SCUD and moving TELs and tanks as well. As with the Block IA missile, the Block II guidance set is augmented by an on-board GPS to improve accuracy.

SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS:
Army TACMS Block II is a conventional semi-ballistic surface-to-surface designed to attack targets beyond the range of existing field artillery cannon and rocket fires. The missile is fired from the launcher assigned to MLRS Corps Artillery Unit. There is 1 missile per guided missile and launching assembly and 2 missiles per launcher load.

The Block II utilizes the Block I missile control and propulsion set, the Block IA guidance and inertial navigation set, and unique hardware and software to assure necessary missile communication with the BAT and P3I BAT submunition. Thrust for the missile is provided by a solid propellant rocket motor which is ignited by an igniter arm/fire device. Control of the missile during flight is accomplished by four fins located 90' apart in the control section of the missile.


Tactical Missile System Penetrator (TACMS-P)
In direct response to the counterproliferation ACEs and the CINC counterproliferation required capabilities, the Counterproliferation Support Program supported a new Cooperative Army/Navy Hard Target Tactical Missile System initiative in FY 1997 to develop an earth penetrating variant of the Army?s Tactical Missile System (TACMS) deliverable by the existing Army M270 tactical missile launcher and eventually by Navy surface ships and submarines. This variant, proposed by the Army TACMS program manager in conjunction with Navy Strategic Systems Programs, makes use of the demonstrated capabilities of the Army TACMS missile system and reentry and penetrator components developed by the Navy to hold the full spectrum of NBC/M-related targets at risk. This project leverages developments in strategic reentry systems technology (including aeroshells, attitude control systems, and guidance systems), advanced penetrator technology, and the Hard Target Smart Fuse (HTSF) under development by DSWA and the Air Force. Initial efforts focused on defining a near-term ATD to support an ACTD involving live fire testing in FY 1999.

The TACMS-P will demonstrate integration of the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) booster with a Navy reentry vehicle resulting in an improved capability to destroy hard and deeply-buried targets. The TACMS-P range extends to 220 km and will be compatible with the MLRS Family of Launchers.