Alternative Warhead (AW) Demonstration

To demonstrate an effectiveness improvement for the Alternative Warhead (AW) variant of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), NTA integrated a proximity sensor into the All-Up Round (AUR) to support a 25 meter warhead height-of-burst (HOB), and optimized guidance to achieve a near-vertical angle-of-fall. The selection of the proximity sensor was a product of maintaining an up-to-date weapon system guidance technology database.  The optimization of the near-vertical guidance law was the result of simulation analyses of the proposed AUR configuration. This integration activity was governed by a systems engineering approach that relied heavily on the Guidance Integration Facility Simulation (GIFSim).  AvMC’s Guidance Integration Facility Simulation (GIFSim) provided the ability to perform detailed analysis of the proximity sensor, as well as to optimize guidance performance on the GMLRS using validated models. NTA successfully integrated this experimental configuration into an AUR and participated in successful flight tests at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in July 2016, demonstrating the ability of the proximity sensor to detect and trigger the rocket fuse at a 25 meter HOB and near-vertical angle-of-fall.   After evaluating the in-flight performance, the proximity sensor was recommended as a design improvement to the program office.  That technology has since been approved for implementation.