US Army Cancels Comanche Helo

"M" *@*.* wrote in message ...
Kevin Brooks
How many smart AT packages have we fielded for the arty systems? None,
other
than Copperhead, which has a mixed record. We have tested some, and
gotten
to the almost-ready-to-field stage, but not actually fielded them. That
*may* change with the new GMLRS (guided MLRS)...there was some talk
about
fielding a smart submunition package for it and for ATACMS.

But there are non-US systems, like the Swedish Strix, which
is a 120mm mortar fired guided AT round. At least on paper,
it seems very formidable with autonomous guidance, target
search and prioritization, and a decent-sized top-attack
warhead. The Brittish 80mm Merlin was rather similar, although
mm-wave radar rather than IR, but I recall that it was cancelled.

If Strix were such a great system it would have been picked up by more
nations than just Sweden and Switzerland (not sure that having two of the
biggest neutrals buy it is much of an endorsement!). Despite claims
otherwise, it will be subject to decoying with properly set up IR emitters.
And it only has a 7 klick range, which is not going to do much in the
interdiction role. If you try to fire it while your forces are in the close
fight, there is a significant fratricide risk.


I find it surprizing that the US hasn't adopted any smart
artillery rounds, except the Copperhead, which really isn't
all that smart (non-autonomous). Especially considering the
hype that was there already in the 80's about cargo rockets
with autonomous AT-munitions that would render massed MBT usage
obsolete (again ... Eg plans of Lance carrying dozens of
such munitions.

That was "Assault Breaker", father of ATACMS. The plans to develop smart
submunitions dispensers for the MLRS family, along with FASCAM versions,
died when the threat of a major conflict with the USSR winked out.


Perhaps the fact that none was fielded has something to do
with the end of the cold war.

Yep. But have no fear--the Excalibur GPS guided 155mm projectile is about
ready to enter service, IIRC. We also have GMLRS, with guided accuracy out
to around 74 km, according to released test results. And remember that
ATACMS is guided, out to 300 km.

Speculatively, if it was seen
that the AH's (etc) that they already had were sufficient to
deal with any armour threat out there? Otoh, it's interesting
that Sweden would come up with such a round. Do they perhaps
see it the other way around, as a substitute for the attack
helos they don't have?

Given its short range, I doubt it.


I don't see us facing any bad guys who can overmatch our
counterbattery, and the ever important firefinder radars,
capabilities.

Unlikely yes, but I could think of rapidly deployed
light 'speed-bump' infantry getting into trouble lacking
sufficient arty. Mogadishu perhaps illustrates in a
small scale that even US troops can find themselves on the
ground without sufficient support.

One of the lessons (re)learned from Anaconda was *always* have your arty
assets available. We are fielding the M777 light 155mm gun now, and HIMARS
is also pending fielding. We already have the M119 light 105mm guns. There
is no need for *any* significant US troop deployment to go in without arty
accompanying it.

Brooks