LFK Completes TriGAT-LR Procurement Prerequisites

Work on a package contract for industrialization and series production of the TriGAT-LR anti-armor missile system, which is part of the long-delayed multinational European program, is being announced at the Farnborough air show by Germany's LFK-Lenkflugkoerpersysteme GmbH.

LFK is working on contract finalization for the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement (BWB), following two firings of the long-range TriGAT, destined by the Franco-German Tiger attack helicopter, performed earlier this year from a ground vehicle, to fulfil procurement prerequisites.

A first launch was successfully made against a moving Leopard tank, while the second was performed as a direct approach from the firing post to the target in a low-angle trajectory. Proving TriGAT LR's superiority against decoys and jammers, the launches were made from a ground vehicle against a static target some 4.3 km away, and only 10 meters from a decoy.

These two firings completed German TriGAT-LR tests at Meppen. Further trials, involving helicopter launches, are scheduled in the next few months in France. TriGAT development will be incorporated into the production of the Tiger, for which the investment and series production contract was signed in June 1999. Also included were the ATA firing post, from which the TriGAT-LR and HOT 3 ATMs can be fired.

Development of the medium-range TriGAT-MR and the -LR, in which Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK have been involved through Euromissile Dynamics (now Aerospatiale MATRA) as prime contractor, dates back to 1988. Production commitments and funding still await authorization. The UK ruled-out -LR procurement in 1994, although continuing development participation.

By John Fricker