Intelligent Munitions System The XM1100 Scorpion ( previously known as the Intelligent Munitions System or IMS ) is a smart system being developed by Textron and the US Army TACOM - ARDEC Picatinny Centre . The IMS allows for controlled and safe use of munitions in the battlefield and prevent unwanted munitions from being buried and forgotten . It is remotely operated and can be left in the field on an automatic mode or turned off to allow friendly vehicles to pass through the area . Each module contains 4 anti - vehicle smart munitions that are fired into the air and release a guided warhead that will descend vertically on the target . History . The IMS started as a component in the Army ' s Future Combat Systems initiative . Its role was as a ground - based wide - area top - attack system for detecting , classifying , and engaging enemy systems in the battlefield . Textron Defense Systems was awarded a $ 115 million contract for the system design and development phase of Intelligent Munitions System in October 2006 . The IMS continued developing after the cancellation of Future Combat Systems . Textron announced on May 4 , 2009 , that the ( renamed ) XM1100 Scorpion networked sensor and munitions platform was tested successfully at two separate events . A system pre - verification test event took place at Fort Devens , Mass . , where the Scorpion system was launched successfully against all six target encounters . Scorpion demonstrated command and control , ground sensor tracking , target engagement , and launch effectiveness against the target set . It was also tested at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri . Soldiers were able to emplace the system during several scenarios , including day and night , using everyday and cold - weather gear , on foot and from a vehicle . On July 15 , 2009 , Textron announced that the Scorpion had completed rigorous verification testing as well as a successful critical design review with the U . S . Army . Testing took place at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico , where dispensing modules controlled by a Scorpion control station were demonstrated in both urban and open terrain settings against single and multiple target arrays . Additional day and overnight system verification trials occurred with up to eight dispensing modules under the control of a single Scorpion control station . These activities validated the Scorpion ' s situational awareness , command and control , and target engagement capabilities . The Scorpion ' s sensor fuzed warhead also was demonstrated to verify functionality and performance under various scenarios . Textron was then informed that they successfully achieved all of the exit criteria required to pass the critical design review . In October 2009 , it was announced that the Scorpion had completed a test series focused on demonstrating the system ’ s capabilities in urban environments . Testing was held at Fort Benning , Georgia , where the Scorpion system performed in both day and nighttime scenarios . Fort Benning ’ s military operations in urban terrain ( MOUT ) site was used for the test series . The rigorous test series confirmed the Scorpion system ’ s ability to accurately identify and engage targets in urban environments . By January 2010 , the XM1100 Scorpion system successfully completed a rigorous test series at White Sands Missile Range . Testing culminated in the first end - to - end , live - fire engagement by the Scorpion networked sensor and munitions platform , with the Scorpion system scoring a perfect three for three against vehicle targets . Remote controlled military targets were driven through multiple fields of emplaced Scorpion systems , which identified and tracked the targets and passed information to an operator overlooking the fields . The operator then armed a fully functional Scorpion system with a high - explosive munition , destroying the targets and demonstrating the system ’ s effectiveness . A full network of 16 dispensing modules was employed during the test event , which included demonstration of command and control , ground sensor tracking , target engagement , anti - vehicle munitions launch and warhead lethality , as well as self - destruction testing and soldier interaction testing and assessment . Additional achievements included the testing of a fielded Scorpion system overnight to observe its force protection capability . In December 2010 , Textron announced that the Scorpion system had performed successfully during live - fire engagements against moving main battle tanks and medium armored personnel carrier targets , scoring hits with its highly lethal explosively formed penetrator warhead in 100 percent of the live fire tests . Additional demonstrations at the event featured Scorpion ' s communication , command and control , and power management capabilities as well as the operational reliability of the system during nearly a month of severe , hot environmental conditions . In July 2011 , the XM1100 Scorpion system successfully completed its final government design verification field test . The demonstration evaluated the Scorpion system ' s ability to detect and track individual and multiple targets , as well as engage vehicle targets . Its munitions dispensing module ( DM ) and networked munitions controller also were evaluated for reliability and performance . The Scorpion system performed successfully throughout the multi - day event . In a demonstration of operational effectiveness , the Scorpion obstacle engaged and stopped a column of tracked vehicles in a " many - on - many " test scenario .