bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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 Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 4:34 pm Post subject: Satellite-guided howitzers. |
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Several of these in Korea would make me feel a lot more safe. They'd be a lot faster at taking out NK guns than planes or missiles -- especially if we already have NK gun positions mostly mapped-out.
http://www.gizmag.com/go/4903/
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It is capable of firing a 155mm shell at up to five rounds per minute while achieving high levels of accuracy with targets up to 30 kilometres away. Firing Raytheon�s new Excalibur satellite-guided artillery shell, the M777 has proven pinpoint accurate, and although specifications call for them being capable of striking within ten metres at a range of 40 kilometres, tests have shown much greater accuracy.
Currently in low initial rate production, the Excalibur shells are coming in at around US$140,000 each, but once full production begins, the new Excalibur XM982 rounds will cost roughly 30 times more than existing unguided artillery shells which costs around US$1000 each, but are only accurate with 200 metres.
In terms of its ability to take out a target, the Excalibur can deliver precision-strike capability to a range of 40 kilometers because of its GPS and inertial navigation guidance - it is accurate to less than 10 meters Circular Error of Probability at all ranges. Accordingly, army studies have shown the Excalibur to be far more cost-efficient in taking out targets. The M-777A1 will replace the US Army�s current M-198 towed Howitzers and will be the artillery system for the Army�s Stryker Brigade Combat Teams, weighing in at a staggering 7000 pounds less than the unit it will replace. The weight reduction improves transportability and mobility and is transportable by the Marine Corps� MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft with the C-130 capable of carrying two.... |
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