Lockheed Martin has packed a missile launcher into a 10-foot (3-meter) shipping container and fired a HELLFIRE missile from inside it, marking the system’s first integrated live-fire and vertical-launch test.
GRIZZLY successfully demonstrated it can launch with precision from a containerized form factor, meeting required operational and trajectory parameters.
Built in just six months using proven architectures, including the fielded M299 system, the launcher supports rapid deployment, reduced logistics demand, and a lower signature on the battlefield.
It is fully transportable and can integrate with any command-and-control system, enabling it to operate as a relocatable fires node across a range of mission sets.
By providing an asymmetric strike option that complements artillery, point-defense, and missile systems, GRIZZLY aims to increase both operational flexibility and combat effectiveness.
“This is an example of how our Lockheed Martin team is leading innovation for our customers’ needs,” said Randy Crites, vice president of Lockheed Martin Advanced Programs.
“Our first live fire tests come just six months after the program began research and development, through internal Lockheed Martin investment, demonstrating our focus on quickly delivering a mobile and versatile launcher capability to defeat evolving threats.”
Following the test campaign, Lockheed will work with the US government to incorporate data from the trials into the next phase of development.
HELLFIRE in Action
The HELLFIRE missile weighs 50 kilograms (109 pounds), measures 163 centimeters (64 inches) in length, and has a diameter of 17.8 centimeters (7 inches).
It carries a multi-purpose warhead and supports a wide engagement envelope, allowing it to strike targets from multiple angles relative to the launch platform.
The missile can engage armored vehicles, air-defense systems, patrol boats, and personnel in both urban and open terrain environments.
It is designed to maintain tracking in degraded conditions such as dust, smoke, and sea spray, and can automatically reacquire targets if temporarily obscured.
