Lockheed Martin Shot Down a Drone with a Missile Launcher Hiding in Plain Sight

The whole thing was built in six months.

Military missile launch test firing from desert ground equipment with smoke trail against clear sky
Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin successfully intercepted a Group 3 one-way attack test drone using a Joint-Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) launched from a GRIZZLY containerized launcher for the first time. Sanctum Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) battle manager and Fortem R-40 Radars were used for the successful detection, tracking and engagement of the drone target.

Sanctum's sensors detected and tracked a hostile Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the Sanctum mission management software processed the engagement, and the GRIZZLY launcher fired a JAGM missile neutralizing the target.

Built on existing prototype architecture, GRIZZLY enables users to employ the ready-to-fire Sanctum C-UAS system without extensive infrastructure and logistical footprints.

The latest test for GRIZZLY comes a few months after the system's first integrated HELLFIRE missile live-fire and vertical-launch test. Lockheed said the container uses commercial off-the-shelf materials, reducing logistics footprint and acquisition cost.

During the tests, the launcher demonstrated its ability to load and launch a missile from a 10-foot Tricon container. Built in six months from established weapon and launcher architectures, including the fielded M299 system, GRIZZLY delivers a cost-efficient, mobile and "low-observable" distributed expeditionary weapon delivery capability.

More in Operations