Last updated on February 17th, 2019 at 09:47 pm
Lockheed Martin began developing America’s LOSAT (line of sight anti-tank) system in the late 1980s.
LOSAT uses kinetic energy, rather than an explosive warhead, to defeat its target. It fires a Kinetic Energy Missile (KEM) at a speed of more than 4,920 ft/s (1500m/s). The KEM weighs 169.8 pounds (77kg), and features a long rod penetrator made of either tungsten or uranium, both of which are extremely dense.
The long rod penetrator is designed to penetrate a vehicle, smash equipment and kill the crew before any explosive reactive armor is activated.
LOSAT has to be platform mounted on the chassis of a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV or Humvee).
A crew of three control and reloaded the system from within the vehicle.
Lockheed Martin received a production contract for the LOSAT system in 2002 and testing was completed in 2004. However, the project was canceled later that year.