Non Line Of Sight Missile System (NLOS)
The Precision Attack Missile (PAM) is a low-cost direct attack missile designed as part of the Netfires NLOS-LS system. It measures seven inch diameter, to fit the same launchers used by LAM. The five foot long missile weighs about 117 pounds. Using a variable thrust solid rocket motor, optimized for the launch, acceleration and cruise phases, PAM will be designed to support operations at a range up to 40 km. It will be equipped with a dual-mode Uncooled Imaging Infrared/Semi-Active Laser (UCIIR/SAL) seeker, and a multi-mode warhead. A two-way data links will link the LAM and PAM with the command center and to each other, to verify targeting before attack, assess battle damage, support “lock-on after launch” PAM has a multi-node network radio that will provide in-flight retargeting and battle damage imagery to the war fighter.
The seeker and warhead elements of the PAM are considered for implementation in other aerial and ground launched weapons, specifically PAAMS, a follow-on to the cancelled JCM, proposed by Raytheon.
The NLOS CLU has 15 canistered missiles, the CLU has an autonomous vertical launcher weighing 3,150 lbs. Each CLU is self contained with autonomous location unit, data radio and launch control systems.
August 2006: NetFires will develop Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System for the Navy Littoral Combat Ships under a US$54.8 million contract awarded by the U.S. Navy. The common vertical launcher will be initially designed to store and fire the Precision Attack Missile (PAM) and later, accept future missile variants. The Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System has been selected to be the premier engagement capability against surface threats such as small moving boats deployed with the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). The U.S. Navy expects to build in excess of 50 such with the first ship, USS Freedom, being commissioned in fiscal year 2007. The Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System is slated for integration into the USS Independence in 2008.
