DOD ACQUISITION: Case Study of the Army Tactical Missile System
Abstract
The Army Tactical Missile System (Army TACMS) is one of a family of complementary weapons to be developed by the Army and Air Force for engaging enemy forces deep behind the front battle lines. Army TACMS will be used to attack those enemy forces which are in a position to have an Immediate or directly supporting impact on the close-in battle, but are beyond the range of cannon and rocket artillery systems. It is intended to delay, disrupt, neutralize, or destroy targets such as second echelon maneuver units, missile sites, and forward command posts. The Air Force has a complementary program to develop an aircraft launched missile primarily for targets beyond the reach of the Army system such as enemy an-fields and refueling sites. Army TACMS will consist of a surface-to-surface ballistic missile that can be launched from and controlled by the same equipment used to launch and control the existing Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). The system will be fielded initially with an antipersonnel/antimaterial warhead for attacking stationary targets. A warhead containing individually guided submunitions which would be effective against moving targets such as tank formations is to be developed later as a product improvement. Army TACMS will be deployed in composite battalions with the nuclear Lance systems and the conventional MLRS. The composite battalions will contain three firing batteries one Lance and two MLRS. The Lance batteries will provide a nuclear capability while the MLRS batteries will provide conventional firepower using both MLRS rockets and Army TACMS missiles. Personnel spaces for the composite Lance/MLRS battalions will be obtained by reorganizing the pure Lance battalions in the current force structure.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 31, 1986
- Accession Number
- AD1178371
Entities
People
- Frank C. Conahan
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office