UK Forces to Get Portable Smart Rocket System

The U.K. Ministry of Defence is investigating ways of providing its military forces with a lightweight artillery system capable of firing missiles with pin-point accuracy using GPS guidance. The system, known as the Lightweight Mobile Artillery System, is light enough to be transported by Chinook or Hercules helicopters, but powerful enough to launch precision GPS guided rockets to ranges of more than 60 kilometers (37 miles). An assessment phase contract has been awarded to Bedfordshire, England-based INSYS for the design, construction and trial of a systems demonstrator, before work begins on final development in the next two years. The system is expected to enter service in late 2007 and the entire program is expected to cost approximately 100 million pounds sterling ($160 million).