Northrop Grumman has developed the Lethality Enhanced Ordnance (LEO) technology in response to the Department of Defense’s (DoD) 2019 requirement that cluster munitions containing submunitions do not result in more than one percent unexploded ordnance (UXO) after arming. LEO solutions contain no sub-munitions to cause unintended harm to civilians and infrastructure, and provide equal to or greater performance required by the warfighter. The performance-enhancing fragmentation technology has been successfully tested on warhead sizes as small as 0.5 lbs and up to 250 lbs: Small Organic Precision Munition (SOPM); M1061 mortar round; 155mm unitary cannon cluster munition replacement; Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS®) and the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB).
The Lethality Enhanced Ordnance (LEO) Advantage
- Same size, greater effectiveness. Northrop Grumman’s new warhead technology is easily configured to meet existing warheads’ overall mass and center of gravity resulting in a much more effective warhead.
- Miniature configuration, extended range. Northrop Grumman’s warheads can be miniaturized while maintaining the same level of lethality/performance as existing
warhead technology. Miniaturization allows for a larger rocket motor which will extend the range of the weapon system. - Eliminates unexploded ordnance. The warhead provides a reliable, consistent technology that does not leave behind unexploded ordnance, replacing conventional cluster munitions that leave unexploded ordnance on the battlefield.
- Modeling. Northrop Grumman can provide customers with accurate predictions of the Lethality Enhanced Ordnance (LEO) warhead performance – and can further optimize
