Night Clerk of the Apacalypse.
I know there are smaller missiles like MBDA's Enforcer which more like a fancy LAW rocket with a guidance package.
Who watches the watchmen?
Night Clerk of the Apacalypse.
See what the possible future for the US Army anti-armor weapon from the MLRS might look like.
It is called Cluster UAS Smart Munition for Missile Deployment or CUASMM
From the SBIR Page
TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform
OBJECTIVE: Develop a cluster payload which can be launched and deployed from a GMLRS or ATACMS platform. The payload shall consist of multiple deployable smart quad-copters capable of delivering small explosively formed penetrators (EFP) to designated targets.
DESCRIPTION: The US Army has a desire for a missile launched payload consisting of multiple quad-copters. The missile will release the quad-copter payload during flight, after which the quad-copters must decelerate to a velocity suitable for deployment (unfolding), identify potential targets, maneuver to and land on the target, and detonate onboard EFP munition(s). Potential targets include tank and large caliber gun barrels, fuel storage barrels, vehicle roofs, and ammunition storage sites. The ultimate goal is to produce a missile deployable, long range UAS swarm that can deliver small EF Ps to a variety of targets. This will serve as a smart augmentation to the standard missile warhead. What is solicited is a GMLRS or ATACMS launched payload consisting of multiple quad-copters carrying EFP munitions. Quad-copters should carry onboard power sufficient to conduct mission. Quad-copters should be able to withstand missile launch environments (acceleration, shock and vibration spectra) and thermal loads at deployment.
PHASE I: Conduct design trade study of quad-copter concepts capable of meeting performance metrics stated in the above description. Perform concept down-selection to a design for Phase II prototype demonstration. Results from the design study will be documented for Phase II.
PHASE II: Expand on Phase I results by maturing selected design to an adequate level for build, testing, and proof-of-concept demonstration. Perform necessary performance characterization and testing (i.e. shock and vibration, electrical power supply sizing, etc.). Acceptable Phase II demonstration should include quad-copter deployment (unfolding), powered flight, acquisition of a representative target, and automated navigation to and landing on target. Additionally, demonstrate quad-copter detonation of the EFP munition (this can be independent of powered flight demonstration for ease of testing and any regulatory restrictions).
PHASE III: There are many military uses for the desired system. While the baseline use is inherently military in nature, other payloads could be used for remote sensing into dangerous/hazardous areas. Portions of this SBIR developed technology should be considered for commercial applications where appropriate. If successful, the most immediate transition path is transition to PEO M&S for use in a variety of missile systems.
Basically the US Army idea is to have the quad copters land on their targets and then fire into them. Which doesn't make a lot of sense given EFP is best leveraged as a stand off weapon and small but potent HEAT warhead is better suited for contact.
This has some parallels to the LOCASS.
Here is an article on LOCASS
I figured I better give something to explain what it is.
It stands for Low-Cost Autonomous Attack System (LOCASS). It is a semi-autonomous networked "hunter killer" Loitering Attack Munition with a "man in the loop". It's original purpose was to hunt high value mobile targets. This included enemy SAM sites, C&C, comms, and even mobile armor units. It was also capable of engaging groups of infantry and other soft targets.
Originally it was supposed to be able to be widely deployed from multiple platforms including cluster bomb carrier used in several weapons called the SUU-64 tactical munition dispenser. It was also being developed to be launched from a MLRS rocket and/or the ATACM MLRS missile. There were two other options including a missile called SMACM (Surveilling Miniature Attack Cruise Missile) carrying four of them and releasing them to attack targets it had detected. Another was naval VLS compatible system called Vertical Launch Autonomous Attack System or VLAAS. It used a modified Rocket launched torpedo motor to boost it into a ballistic trajectory before it used its self powered engine to loiter or attack. The idea was to give light weight stand off capability against a wide range of tanks from small boats to precision strikes in shore.
This weapon basically used the network swarm idea with a man in the loop to launch coordinated and directed attacks against various targets and automatically select how to attack and which warhead mode to attack with.
Article under the Note tag.
note
The test LOCAAS was launched from a King Air 200 and flew 45 nautical miles in 15 minutes, powered by its 30-pound thrust class J 45 G turbo-jet engine, all the while using its laser radar (LADAR) seeker to search for, identify and report on targets in a preplanned mission search area.
While flying the planned mission, the operator-in-the-loop redirected the test vehicle to the location of a moving target elsewhere on the range. Once redirected, the test vehicle altered its predefined flight path to an optimal approach to the moving target as the new primary target of interest.
The Globalstar SATCOM system was used to link the LOCAAS test vehicle and the operator-in-the-loop with a detailed simulation of the Network Centric Collaborative Targeting (NCCT) system. NCCT fused track and identification information from simulated Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) platform sensors to provide the approximate location of the moving, time-sensitive target.
The test vehicle was also linked via data link to the Cooperative Attack Munitions Real-time Assessment (CAMRA) testbed, which simulated three “virtual” munitions cooperatively searching in flight paths adjacent to the test vehicle. Once cued by the operator-in-the-loop, the virtual munitions performed coordinated attack operations in concert with the flight test vehicle using real-time information received across the data link. The link to NCCT allowed the flight test vehicle to act as a non-traditional ISR sensor transmitting detected target vehicle identification, location, time, and weapon status information for use by other systems and operators.
An Air Force flight-rated operator, serving as the operator-in-the-loop, retargeted the LOCAAS flight test vehicle to “attack” the NCCT-tracked moving vehicle. During the test vehicle’s flight, the operator monitored real-time weapon state information, as well as, the near-real time location updates of detected targets provided by NCCT. The operator interface utilized a modified version of the Air Force’s Portable Flight Planning System (PFPS) Falcon View map overlay application. The Falcon View application was executed on a ruggedized laptop computer and enabled the operator to relay the relevant target track information, as well as break-off and/or abort commands to the LOCAAS flight test vehicle.
The LOCASS’s performance was flawless throughout the test, which including high-G turns, acceleration/decelerations, climbs/dives and maximum flight control deflections to verify vehicle stability.
The Air Force Research Laboratory, Munitions Directorate sponsored the flight test which was the culmination of five successful flights including one with a live warhead.
“This test demonstrated the capability of LOCAAS to integrate automatic combat identification, global data links, operator-in-the-loop involvement, and successful redirect of the weapon,” said Randy Bigum, VP of Strike Weapons at Lockheed Martin.
The LOCAAS can be dispensed from the Air Force SUU-64 tactical munition dispenser, an internal weapons bay carriage, a munition ejector rack, or external pylons. Each can be dispensed also from a Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) rocket or an Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile.
Who watches the watchmen?
Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018
I tried to translate it as good as possible. The report itself is quite interesting since it is quite objective and not overly eulogic.
Here is the original source:
http://ultimaratio-blog.org/archives/8148
And here is my translation (I tried to keep the web links in the original text):
By the adjudant (OR-8 NATO) Guillaume Paris, Specialist instructor at L’école de cavalerie (Saumur)
Ongoing since 2015, the civil war in Yemen haven’t been covered a lot by national (France) media.
However the combats have seen a large deployment of armored vehicles. In order to support the local government, a powerful coalition lead by the Saoudian took part in this conflict. Backed up by France, the USA and the UK, the coalition line up occidental vehicle and, most importantly use doctrine issued from the occidental “way” of urban combat.
Those doctrines seems to have been poorly applied by the coalition with weapon systems that were not always adapted. The engagement of the coalition in urban area didn’t had the proper preparation for armored raid and, once under fire, the units panicked and retreated in poor order. The battles of Ma’rib or Aden are the perfect examples.
The rebels don’t seek to capture the abandoned vehicles.
They use them as propaganda tools then destroy them.
This in order not to increase their logistic footprint but also to make sure that those vehicles do not return to the coalition.
Those loss explain probably the recent contracts for ground armament between the USA and the Saoudian for about 1,15 billion dollars.
For the operation « Return hope » of the Arabic coalition in Yemen against the Houthis rebels, the UAE deployed between 70 and 80 Leclerc tanks since spring 2015.
This represent the first engagement in combat of the French MBT by a foreign army.
This operation deserver to learn lessons from it, be it at the operational and logistical preparation or at the tactical use of those tanks in operation and their resilience to enemy fire.
This example shall also remember us not to be blinded by our technological and doctrinal superiority against a determined foe.
An adequate operational preparation
The operational preparation of deployed unit was well anticipated.
The units intended to go to Yemen were able to train regularly on simulator or in live training before being sent to combat. The crew could familiarize themselves with the AZUR kits, even if all tank were not equipped with it. Numerous shooting campaign also allowed them to perfect their skills and master the use of HE shells OE F1, recently obtained.
At the tactical level, the units participated to training at the Hamra and Thouban camps to acquire the basics of urban, desert and even mountain combats, this to fit the reality of the Yemenite terrain.
Various tactical use
The Leclercs units have been employed to fulfill various missions in various context.
The tanks have been distributed between two mechanized battalions inside of an armored brigade which included a mechanized battalion of BMP-3 and a battery of artillery equipped with G6.
Engaged first together for the battle of Al anab, the two armored battalions were separated for the rest of the operations, one staying in Aden and the other one going forward in the interior of the country.
Those units were first employed in urban or peri-urban area, in offensive action as soon as the beginning of the battle of Aden (March-July 2015) then on the seizing of the air base of Al-Anad. Shortly after conquering this base, the first armored battalion found itself in a defensive position and lead counter-attacks in urban and mountain area, most likely in the form of armored raids, to drive away the enemy troops that posed a threat to the base from the nearby height.
After that, the Emirati forces used the Leclerc of the second armored battalion in offensive actions in mountain area around Ma’rib or in urban area in Sabr but with mitigated results.
The tanks were also used in secondary roles like for example fire support for the infantry or in static position for the protection of command post.
The logistical support during the operation
The deployment of Leclerc MBT in Yemen beneficed of a remarkable logistic support.
The supply chain on spare parts or in equipment have been assured by air or see (the port of Aden served as a resupply port after taking Al anab) then by ground to the troops on the front line.
The Emirati logistical units opened ways of repair and resupply all the way down to the lowest echelon, which is obviously capital for the operational availability of the machines and their tactical capacity. For 3 months of combats, a battalion of tank could consume in average 200 shells of 120mm of three different kind.
The evacuation of wounded, sometimes numerous like during the combats of Ma’rib, was not neglected and participated at the good shape of the troops. Here too, aerial and ground ways of medical support were created to evacuate the wounded as fast as possible.
The Leclerc in combat
The Leclerc were exposed to difficult combat conditions and to an accurate enemy fire.
The machine suffered from the sand and the rocks of their zone of operation.
The dust raised by the machine, but most importantly the sand reduced the performance of the armements.
HMG of 12,7mm and 7,62mm suffered frequent missfire due to unexpected jamming.
The nature of the terrain also caused a recrudescence of failure of electro-fans supposed to keep the dust away from the engine due to an accumulation of sand and dust around the rear portion of the tank during it’s movements.
Finnaly the pads on the tracks suffered a rapid degradation due to the rocky terrain of the Yemen height, forcing some vehicles to roll directly on the track which also lead to a prematury wear and the degradation of some elements of the rolling train like barbotins.
The enemy fire was applied on Leclerc pragmatically.
Optics of the commander and gunner have been systematically the target of collective weapons or precision rifles. The roof armament has also been targeted in order to make it unusable (Cable of ignition cut or perforation of the weapon itself).
Some tanks suffered fire from heavy collective weapons on the rear section in order to destroy the engine but without success.
The Leclerc have also been the victims of anti-tank mines and IED which put a hard stress on the rollers of three tanks.
All damaged tanks were repaired with success.
However one Leclerc had been definitively neutralized by a direct fire of an ATGM.
The hollow charge went through the frontal section of the tank on the section of the driver compartment killing him and wounding the commander on the legs.
The type of missile isn’t know but looking at the photography and following the video posted by the rebels on combats around Ma’rib we can reasonably think that it wasn’t a Kornet but rather an AT 5 or AT 5 N Konkurs/Konkurs M.
The tank could have been repaired because not technical element necessary to the weapon system was damaged. It also remind us that no tank is indestructible.
The Saoudians lost at least 9 M1A2 to anti-tank fire.
Studying the use of an aditionnal protection comparable to the LEDS system or reactive armor like the Russian system Relikt could be used to mitigate the lack of protection on some parts of the tank.
Finally the Houthis rebels used an intense electronical warfare against the communication system. Radio of French origin in the tanks were affected by jamming, intrusion or interception.
Conclusion
The Leclerc had a more than satisfying availability thanks to a good Emirati logistical chain.
The vehicles handled the enemy fire well and no loss was definitive.
But the only tank hit, frontally, by an anti-tank weapon was perforated and neutralized.
Those the results of the Leclerc in Yemen is paradoxical, they fully satisfied the Emirati army on the operational level but in the same time showed defects in the protection of the crew.
Following the combats on this theater of operation will allow us to better know the capacity of the Leclerc when engaged.
On all the current zone of conflict, the urban area cannot be avoided.
Armored vehicles showed themselves a critical asset in inter arms combat, the only one capable to size the victory in this kind of environment.
But those AFV will have to evolve to better face the threats of urban areas.
This is what was done with the valorization program of the Leclerc which should remedy to a good part of the identified weakness.
Following the Yemen experiences we can gather some direction of amelioration for our tanks:
For the structural armor (hull), the use of nano-cristallized material would be a good idea, like it is on the Japanese Type 10. Since this technology is prohibitively expense, it would better to integrate them in the new armor package on the Leclerc.
As for soft kill protection, the Kit Balistique de Contre Mesure was relevant for the Leclerc.
It blended both Laser alert warning and wide spectrum jammer.
The optical detector (DOP) JD 3 present on the Chinese ZTZ 99 is an interesting idea, even more since we know that this is a French technology which was originally used in the sniper alley in Sarajevo.
As a reminder, this system detect enemy laser in various directions and send them back a more powerfull pulse “frying” the laser receptor.
As for hard kill, the delay accumulated by our army is important. On shelve purchase could be a good idea, like the US army with the Israeli Iron fist. Germany developed the AMAP-ADS (Known as Shark in France) which should enter service in Singapore.
From what I'm hearing, the frontal hit was actually a belly plate hit - something no MBT currently in service is designed from the factory to handle.
I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
Eye'm the cutest!
Ukraine's New Unmanned "Phantom" Ground Vehicle Aims To Bust Russian Tanks.
A .50 cal MG and a single ATGM isn't what I'd call impressive armament but then again the thing looks like it's the size of a golf cart.
"Allah may guide their bullets, but Jesus helps those who aim down the sights."
Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018
Claimed penetration on the ATGM is 800mm RHA after ERA. Not going to go through a T-72B3 from the front, but that's why the drone is tiny...
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
Ukranian drones are already being stolen or destroyed by Russian jammers. What's keeping this one safe?
Oh really when?
Even if it might only be marginal against tanks, I'd bet it's a lot cheaper even without the concerns of losing the crew in a fight. For non-tank situations, it's still a heavy machine gun nest that can be deployed with near impunity. Use it to pin down or outflank enemy squishies.
The concerns about hacking or interference are of course valid.
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
The Russians and separatists have apparently taken to hiding jammers in derelict cars and debris and then sending a team to collect Ukranian drones after they stop or crash after entering the dead zone.
Oh really when?
That's kind of neat. The obvious counter is to boobytrap a few derelict cars and such, and post lots of warning signs about boobytrapped derelict cars and such, preferably far in excess to the actual booby traps.
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
Separatists are already a step ahead, booby trapping the cars the jammers are in so the Ukranians can't futz with them.
Oh really when?
Right, OK, but what if... they booby trap the booby traps?
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
It's just booby traps all the way down. There's more IED than car at that point.
Oh really when?
The law in the night
Eye'm the cutest!
I thought the T-72/T-80/T-90 family had a maximum RHA equivalent of armor of about 600-700mm after ERA. Abrams isn't measured in 4 digits though it's close with the SEP packages and T-72/T-80/T-90 isn't quite as well armored as that.
"Allah may guide their bullets, but Jesus helps those who aim down the sights."
Night Clerk of the Apacalypse.
For the T-72 line it depends on the attack. They are much weaker against kinetic AP but are highly resistant to heat. Which in general seems to be true for all of the tanks.
From the 1985 T-72B forward, HEAT resistance with Reactive Armor kits is in excess of 900mm across the front arcs of the turrets and hulls. Sides, back, top, and under are of course appreciably less well protected.
T-80 IIRC has less protection than the T-72B series but it has also received less upgrade efforts. It might be closer with the Relikt ERA kit but it is apparently rarely seen these days.
T-90 with Reactive Armors are reportedly on average in excess of 1,000mm vs HEAT.
edited 22nd Feb '17 5:47:21 PM by TuefelHundenIV
Who watches the watchmen?
Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018
Fofanov suggests otherwise due to improvements in bulging plate composition. Thinnest is 800-900 mm at the cast gun mantlet area.
In other words, the speculated effective RHA ratings for HEAT (if there's one thing that has not caught on, it's KE ATGMs) are not in favor of the Barrier, even assuming that the ERA is perfectly defeated.
edited 22nd Feb '17 6:04:34 PM by Krieger22
I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
Night Clerk of the Apacalypse.
Krieger: That site is 900mm+ or better. Even K-1 Gives at least 900mm protection to the Hull. K 5 is better.
Who watches the watchmen?
Night Clerk of the Apacalypse.
Syrians deploy a natively developed soft kill system to reduce tank casualties against the wide variety of older SALCOS missiles being fired at their tanks. It might actually be working. The system is known as Sarab and has versions 1,2, and 3.
It was apparently developed because the system on the T-90 supposedly was too difficult to adapt for the older tanks.
Who watches the watchmen?
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
SPACE
Not sure if want Youtube so I can hear the screeching treads...
Night Clerk of the Apacalypse.
Somewhere a maintainer is crying.
Who watches the watchmen?
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
The first comment on there is a tank maintenance crew saying that was 15 hours of work down the toilet.
The law in the night
Maybe that is the reason why the vodka consumption is so high among the logistical corps in the Russian Army.
Inter arma enim silent leges
you see ivan when you drift you have no needings of brakes
I think it's officially just Spike, Javelin and SRAW. No other model exists that I'm aware of that's been officially adopted or accepted anywheres.
"Allah may guide their bullets, but Jesus helps those who aim down the sights."