Munitions system passes field test

WILMINGTON, Mass., June 21 (UPI)

Textron's XM1100 Scorpion networked ground munitions system successfully completed its final government design verification field test, the company said.

The testing was at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona to evaluate the system's ability to detect and track individual and multiple targets, as well as engage vehicle targets.

Textron said Scorpion's munitions dispensing module and networked munitions controller also were evaluated for reliability and performance. The Scorpion system performed successfully throughout the multi-day event.

"Our Scorpion is the first and only networked munitions system developed in accordance with the U.S. Army's current safety standards for munitions controllers, which are the DO-178B and the Army Fuse Safety Review Board Guidelines' Appendix C," said Textron Defense Systems Senior Vice President and General Manager Ellen Lord. "It is a scalable and highly effective force protection asset.

"With each demonstration, we've been able to further enhance system performance and reliability of a munition that also reduces risk to non-combatants and friendly forces."

Textron Defense Systems' Scorpion consists of an advanced networked munitions controller and a munitions DM. The controller provides situational awareness and positive control of the Scorpion munitions and is extensible to control both lethal and non-lethal effects. It fuses sensor data from a single DM or a field of networked DMs to detect, track, classify, report, engage and destroy targets.

Textron said the DM is comprised of wide-area, top-attack anti-vehicle munitions that are immune to traditional breaching techniques and that the Scorpion system provides an active obstacle capability that scales from combat outpost protection to large-scale battlefield shaping.