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MGM-168
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Copyright © 2003 Andreas Parsch

Lockheed Martin MGM-168 ATAMCS Block IVA

The ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) Block IVA Unitary missile is a variant of the MGM-140B ATACMS Block IA. It was originally designated as MGM-140E ATACMS Block IA Unitary. It uses the same GPS/INS guidance as the MGM-140B, but substitutes a 500 lb unitary HE warhead (based on the WDU-18/B warhead of the Navy's AGM-84E SLAM) for the M74 bomblets. The development contract was placed in December 2000, and flight-testing of MGM-140Bs modified to ATACMS Block IA Unitary configuration began in April 2001. The first production contract for new-built MGM-140E Block IVA missiles was awarded in March 2002.

Image: Lockheed Martin
MGM-140E (MGM-168A)


In August 2003, the designation MGM-168A was assigned to the production variant of the ATACMS Block IVA, which will include technology from the so-called "TACMS 2000" (T2K) program. T2K, funded by Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Army, was designed to reduce production costs for all ATACMS missiles, and Lockheed Martin claims to have reduced the cost per missile by up to US$ 100000. T2K was also applied to the MGM-140C ATACMS Block II missile, resulting in the MGM-164A variant.

Specifications

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

Data for MGM-168A:

Length4.0 m (13 ft)
Diameter0.61 m (24 in)
Finspan1.4 m (55 in)
Weight?
Ceiling> 50 km (30 miles)
Range300 km (186 miles)
PropulsionSolid-fueled rocket
Warhead227 kg (500 lb) WDU-18/B unitary high-explosive

Main Sources

[1] Department of Defense Missile Nomenclature Records
[2] Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Website


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Last Updated: 3 November 2003