Philco-Ford LOCAT

The LOCAT (Low-Cost Aerial Target), developed and built by the Aeronutronics Division of Philco-Ford, was a very low-cost high-speed rocket-powered target for U.S. Army air-defense training. In 1969, Ford received an Army contract for a small test and evaluation quantity of LOCAT rockets. LOCAT was apparently not procured for service use, possibly because the more versatile MTR-15A BATS (Ballistic Aerial Target System) was preferred.

Photo: U.S. Army

LOCAT

LOCAT had a fuselage made of rolled paper tubing, plastic fins, and was coated with aluminum to provide a radar signature suitable for targeting purposes. The target was boosted by three 70 mm (2.75 in) FFAR (Folding-Fin Aircraft Rocket) solid-fuel motors, and was intended to train missile crews for defense against low flying high-speed aircraft.

Specifications

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

Data for LOCAT:

Length	4.57 m (15 ft)
Diameter	0.24 m (9.6 in)
Weight	70 kg (155 lb)
Speed	840 km/h (520 mph)
Ceiling	90-610 m (300-2000 ft)
Range	610-3350 m (2000-11000 ft)
Flight Time	4-24 s
Propulsion	3 FFAR solid-fuel rockets

Main Sources

[1] R.T. Pretty, D.H.R. Archer (eds.): "Jane's Weapon Systems 1972-73", Jane's, 1973
[2] James J. Haggerty (ed.): "1970 United States Aircraft, Missiles and Spacecraft", National Aerospace Education Council, 1970

Back to Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 4

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Last Updated: 24 October 2002