Army-Navy 'Common Missile' To Replace Hellfire, Maverick

摘要

The Army and the Navy have agreed to collaborate on a new air-to-ground missile that will replace the battle-tested Hellfire and Maverick weapons. A solicitation for contractor proposals is expected this month for the so-called "common missile" project. The Joint Staff must review and endorse the program before it can proceed into development later this fall. The project could be worth $7 billion, assuming the services buy at least 70,000 missiles. The Army budgeted $360 million for the program over the next two years. Much of the current Hellfire inventory―built in the 1980s―has exceeded its shelf life and must be replaced by 2008, officials said. The Maverick―first introduced in 1972―also is headed for retirement some time this decade.