ATK [ATK] and Israel’s Elbit Systems [ESLT] Monday said they have successfully conducted flight tests in Israel of the Guided Advanced Tactical Rocket (GATR).
“In a recent demonstration, conducted in Israel, GATR was deployed from a helicopter using a ‘lock-on before launch’ method to engage an off-boresight target at a range of approximately three kilometers,” the companies said in a statement.
ATK and Elbit validated flight worthiness, safe separation launch, and autonomous laser designated guided flight through a series of tests. “The laser designated guided flight, launched from a standard 2.75 inch launcher, resulted in a direct impact on the target,” the companies added.
GATR was originally announced in July 2008 and is designed to combine combat-proven performance, minimum smoke signature, and the reliability of an ATK propulsion system akin to one employed on millions of rockets produced for the Army.
Elbit built the guidance and control system that features advanced acquisition, tracking and guidance algorithms to achieve one-meter accuracy against stationary and moving targets, the companies said.
In its tactical configuration, GATR will incorporate an Insensitive Munitions (IM) rocket motor and a family of IM warheads to include blast/fragmentation and penetration.
GATR is designed to be a low-cost, precision strike weapon that minimizes collateral damage, while providing standoff deployment against a wide array of target sets. It is designed to fill the gap between larger, more expensive guided missiles and the current family of unguided rockets, the companies added.
GATR supports lock-on before or after launch, as well as autonomous or remote laser designation.
The system can be deployed against targets at ranges of about one to five miles from fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.
It is compatible with existing 2.75-inch/70mm launcher hardware. GATR will be particularly effective in urban areas or against targets where a low collateral damage solution is required.