US Company Lockheed Martin displayed a deck-mounted vertical launcher for AGM-114L Hellfire/AGM-179 JAGM missiles intended for warships on a scaled model.
The Drive reported that a 12-round launcher was displayed on a scaled model of an Arleigh Burke Flight III destroyer, with two launchers behind the stern VLS module. The launcher is likely a configuration of the M299 JAGM Quad Launcher (JQL), which was revealed by Lockheed Martin years prior.
The launcher can fire either one of the AGM-114L Hellfire or the newer and more capable AGM-179 JAGM missiles. Earlier, AGM-114 Hellfire was integrated into Freedom-class LCS through a small VLS to defend against small boats and, alternatively, some UAV types.
(Photo Credit: Joseph Trevitchik)
Unlike the VLS on Freedom-class, this launcher is more adaptable as a deck-mounted type and can be rapidly reloaded by rotating down the cells to a horizontal position. Due to their weight of around 50 kg, the missiles can be reloaded by two crew members, whereas larger missiles require special equipment mostly found in bases.
Danger and operational cost overruns in USV and UAV attacks might have been the driving reason for Lockheed Martin putting a rather underrecognized concept into the spotlight. An air-to-ground missile adapted for warship launch can have the advantage of hit probability over naval guns and lower cost over air defence missiles like RIM-116 RAM and ESSM.
