Textron Systems’ Damocles loitering munition selected for U.S. Army LASSO prototype contract

By Martin Chomsky (Defence Industry Europe)

Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. company, has been awarded a prototype agreement by the U.S. Army under the Low Altitude Stalking & Strike Ordnance (LASSO) program. Under the agreement, the company will deliver its Damocles loitering munition system and conduct a demonstration for the Army.
Photo: Textron Systems.

Textron Systems has been awarded a prototype agreement by the U.S. Army under the Low Altitude Stalking & Strike Ordnance (LASSO) program. Under the agreement, the company will deliver its Damocles loitering munition system and conduct a demonstration for the Army.

 

The Damocles loitering munition is equipped with Textron Systems’ GEN2 Explosively Formed Penetrator and is designed to provide lethal effects in peer warfare environments. For the LASSO program, the system is integrated with a vertical take-off and landing uncrewed aircraft system to enable top-attack capability.

In its VTOL configuration, the Damocles system does not require launch or recovery equipment. The system is designed to operate beyond-line-of-sight, offering extended reach in operational scenarios.



Built using a modular open systems approach, the platform allows integration of additional payloads to support different concepts of operation, including electronic warfare effects. The system also incorporates safety features intended to prevent unexploded ordnance, reducing the risk of hazardous remnants on the battlefield.

“Loitering munitions technology will be key in protecting the warfighter on the battlefield – they allow warfighters to send systems like Damocles beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) to engage a target from a safer standoff distance,” said Henry Finneral, Senior Vice President, Weapon Systems. “Textron Systems is proud to support this mission and leverage our industry-leading EFP technology to provide next-generation capability at speed and at scale.”

 

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