"Magnus Redin" wrote in message
...
Hi!

"Kevin Brooks" writes:
Not in this argument it is not. The poster was claiming that we should
be
able to forego attack helo operations in favor of systems like Strix for
the
deep attack role--and Strix is NOT a deep attack asset, by any
definition.
Don't take this as an outright condemnation of Strix, just its inability
to
*replace* the attack helo.

Oh, I obviously dident read enough of the thread. Replacing attack
helicopters with mortar rounds is of course an impossible idea even if
they are 100% accurate.

OK, belay the "outright condemnation bit" for a second--if it is so
good, and has been around since 1994, why have only Sweden and
Switzerland ordered it?

The cold war ended and everybody but USA has lowered their military
spending significantly? And the USA dont like to buy foreign high-tech
weapons if it can be avoided. Nobody bought our exelent self propelled
"Bandkanon" howitzer either and it could fire 14 155mm rounds in 45
seconds in 1966. Perhaps its like that howitzer, too expensive and
somewhat before its time? But I do not know what the strix rounds
cost.

I'd say it was because in this case Sweden exhibited that trait that we
ourselves have had to avoid (sometimes not so successfully ourselves, I'd
admit) and bought a nifty weapon designed to help counter the anticipated
hordes of Soviet armored vehicles you might have faced if the balloon had
ever actually gone up--but they did it after the threat was largely
dissipated. Apparently the old "Cold War Mindset" when it came to weapons
procurement after the demise of the Warsaw Pact threat is not a purely
American disease... :-) The US had a number of deep strike artillery
anti-armor weapons in the development pipeline--most were subsequently
cancelled.

Brooks


True enough. But it appears the Brits cancelled their similar Merlin
effort years ago, and the US has yet to actively seek a mortar fired
anti-tank killer capability, having other systems that can do the
job (and if it has to be done by arty, then a FIST or COLT with
assigned laser designator can do the job with Copperhead).

I do not know why the Merlin project was cancelled, it was a
significantly smaller round, perhaps it was not possible to get it
all to fit in such a small package?
Good for you that you have plenty of other systems for killing armour.

Best regards,
--
Titta gärna på http://www.lysator.liu.se/~redin och kommentera min
politiska sida.
Magnus Redin, Klockaregården 6, 586 44 LINKöPING, SWEDEN
Phone: Sweden (0)70 5160046