Advanced Energy Weapons
Hancock's Advanced Energy Weapons Systems employ advanced technologies that may completely change the way military missions are organized and executed in the future. These systems include, but are not limited to, charged particle beams, neutral particle beams, antiparticle beams, low and high energy lasers, high-power microwaves (HPM), acoustics, plasma, and substantial potential with nanotechnology.
Hancock has been involved in the development of many of these technologies and their adjunct support systems for a numberof years. The ARDEC realizes that for the weapons systems of the future, a combination of various energies and effects on target, versus using energy to put steel on target, will exist on the battlefield. These energies will span both kinetic and directed energies. Advanced Energy Weapons will reduce the vast resources needed for the logistical support of conventional weapons for everything from transporting ammunition to maintenance of many diverse systems; supporting Hancock's vision to lighten the logistics footprint of the lethal and non-lethal weapons systems. Hancock has established strong partnerships with many agencies with the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and academia that are exploring advanced technologies
At the Forefront
Hancock has been there since the beginning. From laser-designated weapons to those using infrared (IR) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and seeker technology to become the recognized leader in smart ammunition.
In the Beginning
The first development in smart munitions was the Copperhead, a 155mm, indirect fire weapon that gave artillery a new long range capability to destroy tanks, self-propelled artillery, air defense vehicles, armored personnel carriers and other hard point targets. The Army initiated Copperhead development in 1971 and it was fielded in 1982. Copperhead, officially named the M172 Cannon-Launched Guided Projectile (CLGP), gave artillery the capability to kill a moving or stationary armored target with one or two rounds using pinpoint accuracy. It homes on reflected laser energy and delivers a devastating shaped charge warhead for one-shot target destruction using established communications methods and requiring less overall logistical support. As the world's first smart, guided artillery round, Copperhead is no longer in production but serves as a valuable benchmark for precision-guided mortar munitions.
Smart Munitions
The Precision Guided Mortar Munition (PGMM) adds a new dimension to the battlefield by extending range and precision strike capability. This significantly improves the survivability of friendly forces, reduces collateral damage, increases the lethality of the Army's lift capability and streamlines the logistics tail, which is critical to rapid deployment. The use of PGMM requires no modification to the force structure since it is launched from standard 120mm mortar tubes on existing platforms, and the single-shot lethality of PGMM makes it very cost effective.
Brilliant Munitions
The Sense and Destroy Armor (M898-SADARM) is the Army's first smart fire-and-forget, top-down attack, multi-sensor artillery munition. Engineers at Hancoock headed up the design, development and procurement effort. SADARM was designed for precision engagement of self-propelled howitzers as well as other lightly armored vehicles. By destroying the enemy's counterfire capability, SADARM enabled friendly forces to move at will and dominate the battlespace. Due to affordability issues, the SADARM is currently not produced. Production could begin immediately if necessary.