Lockheed fires JAGM from GRIZZLY box launcher in counter-drone test
Lockheed says the Yuma shot paired Sanctum software, Fortem R-40 radars and a containerized launcher into one counter-drone kill chain.
Lockheed says the Yuma shot paired Sanctum software, Fortem R-40 radars and a containerized launcher into one counter-drone kill chain.
Lockheed Martin said Wednesday it intercepted a Group 3 one-way attack test drone at Yuma Proving Ground with a Joint Air-to-Ground Missile fired from the company's GRIZZLY containerized launcher.
Military Times wrote that the June 3 live fire used Lockheed's Sanctum counter-UAS battle manager and Fortem R-40 radars for detection, tracking and engagement. Lockheed's release said the hardware-in-the-loop work and live-fire test were completed in under 45 days.
The launcher is a 10-foot shipping container that carries up to eight missiles and reloads without tools, per Military Times. The same article said GRIZZLY is designed to fire Hellfire and JAGM missiles and follows a March Hellfire launch from the container at Yakima Training Center.
Axios noted that the target was Shahed-style. Dan Tenney, Lockheed's senior vice president for global business development and strategy, told Axios that containerization keeps the weapon mobile and lets it "hide in plain sight." Axios also said that a JAGM costs a few hundred thousand dollars.
Fortem is the smaller-company layer. Lockheed put $25 million into the Utah counter-drone firm in April to fold its radars and interceptors deeper into Sanctum, Military Times and Axios detailed. Axios said Fortem systems have been used in Ukraine for years and that allies in Europe and the Middle East recently ordered a dozen counter-drone systems.
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Subscribe Free →AeroTime wrote that the six-figure interceptor price will draw scrutiny against one-way attack drones. Lockheed's release frames GRIZZLY as a land or maritime point-defense launcher that can deploy within days; whether customers reserve JAGM for the high-end layer is the cost-exchange question left by the Yuma shot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Lockheed test at Yuma?
Lockheed said it intercepted a Group 3 one-way attack drone with a JAGM fired from the GRIZZLY containerized launcher, using Sanctum and Fortem R-40 radars for the detect-track-engage chain.
What is GRIZZLY?
GRIZZLY is Lockheed's containerized missile launcher. According to Military Times, it fits into a 10-foot shipping container, holds up to eight missiles and can fire Hellfire or JAGM.
Why does Fortem matter?
Fortem supplied the R-40 radars used in the test. Military Times and Axios noted that Lockheed invested $25 million in Fortem in April to integrate its counter-drone hardware more tightly with Sanctum.
Why is the cost exchange still open?
Per Axios, each JAGM costs a few hundred thousand dollars, while AeroTime wrote that using a six-figure missile against one-way attack drones will draw scrutiny unless it is reserved for higher-value threats.
Where could the launcher be used?
Lockheed said the containerized launcher can be mounted on ground sites or maritime platforms. Military Times said Lockheed has pitched it for forward bases, critical assets and vessels.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.