Successful Live Fire Demo Clears Path for Spike NLOS Airworthiness Release Onto U.S. Apache.

Lockheed Martin Media Release

Lockheed Martin has successfully conducted a series of live-fire tests, firing eight Spike NLOS all-up rounds (AURs) from the U.S. Apache Echo Model V6 at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. The accomplishment, achieved over a five-day period, signifies a significant milestone in the development of the Spike NLOS Long Range Precision Munitions Directed Requirement (LRPM DR) system.

The positive outcome of the live-fire event has resulted in the clearance of the Spike NLOS LRPM DR system for Airworthiness Release (AWR) for integration onto the U.S. Apache platform. This achievement marks a crucial advancement, paving the way for the deployment of the system on the U.S. Army’s existing Apache V6 platforms.

Tom Bargnesi, the program management senior manager of the Precision Strike team at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, expressed confidence in the Spike NLOS system, stating, “This successful demonstration of Spike NLOS showcases that the system is ready to be integrated onto the Army’s current Apache fleet and provides a premier defence capability of choice when precision and accuracy matter. The AWR allows delivery of 21st-century security solutions to our Army customer for complex threat environments.”

The demonstration involved the firing of eight Spike NLOS AURs from an Apache platform at various targets, highlighting the system’s diverse mission capabilities across multiple scenarios. This demonstration represents a critical final step for the system to receive AWR clearance, enabling the Army to initiate the process of integrating Spike NLOS onto its Apache V6 platforms.

Looking ahead, Lockheed Martin is set to collaborate with the Army in mid-2024 to train pilots in the operation of the Spike NLOS system on the Apache V6 platforms. The Army anticipates the full integration of the Spike NLOS LRPM DR system onto all 18 Apache Echo Model V6 platforms by September 2024.