Polyphem Tests Underway at LFK-Lenkflugkoerpersysteme

Test launches started earlier this month at LFK-Lenkflugkoerpersysteme GmbH's Schrobenhausen test facility of the Polyphem advanced long-range fiber-optic guided anti-tank/attack missile. Initial production of Polyphem now seems likely to be for the German Navy, which has already selected it as a light anti-ship missile system to equip its new K 130 corvettes.

Also deployable on most of the current military helicopters, such as the Lynx and Super Puma, Polyphem can reliably detect, identify and engage targets over ranges of up to 60 kilometers, beyond the range of most low-level enemy air defense systems. With an imaging infrared camera seeker, Polyphem has night/bad-weather launch capabilities, and is equipped with a multipurpose warhead.
The launch helicopter, ship, submarine or ground vehicle provides firing and command guidance of the missile via the fiber-optic link, which unreels over the full operating range, and transfers images from the IR camera to a screen on the combat control console. Now integrated into the organizational structure of the Defense and Civil Systems division of the European Aeronautic and Space Company (EADS), LFK is planning a second Polyphem test launch this month.

By John Fricker