Projectile Scores a Direct Hit Against Moving T-72 Tank(new Abrams round)

defensetalk.com ^

[MARKUSPRIME]

Tucson AZ: Raytheon successfully conducted the first beyond line of sight mission with a test firing of its Mid Range Munition Chemical Energy (MRM-CE) guided projectile with digital semi active laser sensor. The projectile, fired from an Abrams M1A2 SEP (system enhancement program) tank, scored an extended-range, guided direct hit.

The test firing at the U.S. Army's Yuma, Ariz., Proving Grounds demonstrated the laser-guided seeker's ability to successfully target, acquire and track a moving tank and guide the munition to intercept at a distance of 5.4 miles (8.7 km).

"The round hit within inches of the aim point demonstrating 100 percent mission success. The MRM-CE 'One Team' concept uniting the Army's Picatinny Arsenal, General Dynamics Ordnance Tactical Systems and Raytheon is at the core of our success," said Rick Williams, Raytheon Missile Systems' MRM program manager.

The Raytheon MRM-CE projectile is designed to provide the Army with lethal, one-shot capability as it continues its transformation to lighter, more deployable combat forces. The MRM-CE, which will autonomously attack battlefield targets at beyond line of sight ranges, with or without external laser target designation, is a key component of the Army's Future Combat Systems vehicles.

"The MRM-CE continues to perform consistently and accurately and is ready to enter system development and demonstration," said Ken Pedersen, Raytheon Missile Systems' vice president of Advanced Programs.

The MRM-CE program is jointly developed and managed by Army Research and Development Command and the Project Manager -- Maneuver Ammunition Systems at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J.

[MARKUSPRIME]

More good news for the US military.

Abrams M1A2 SEP

[taxed2death]

"Mid Range Munition Chemical Energy (MRM-CE) guided projectile with digital semi active laser sensor."

They left out the Wile E. Coyote prefix.

[rahbert]

what about a jihadi with a Vampir?

[Youngman442002]

ACME......

[subterfuge]

The Future Combat Systems platform will be an awesome system that allows a small force to control vast areas of territory. I've seen a promotional/ficticious video that demonstrates where the military is headed and its very promising in the area of troop safety and capability.

[conservativehusker]

While I love new toys for the military I think they need to consider a renameing..you know anything with the name "chemical" anything will get the moonbats spewing!!!!...ok maybe thats not a bad thing!!

[RexBeach]

Great news!!!!

So, how did we get hold of a T-72? The Pols?

[JustDoItAlways]

5.4 miles? Hit within inches? Seek, acquire and target on its own?

Now that is some kind of munition. Might result in lots of friendly fire casualities if its acquiring software is not foolproof.

[kronos77]

RPG-29 Vampire is best m.f. RPT there is!
large and robuste, but axtremly efficiant.

Hitting mouving tarbeg with tank gun isnt something as achievent, but regular duty. T-72? that is old and tank with not much electronics. Try puting M-1 and T-90 tanks to campare. AT-11 missile fiered from barrel of T-90 strikes tank on 5,000 meters. M-1 is obsolete and USA needs something new.

And another thing, why US army is allways comparing its best weapons with Russian 20 or 30 years old weapons?

[JWinNC]

Hmmm.... just thinking out loud... are tanks becoming obsolete? This type of weapon system mounted on a lighter, faster, highly mobile artillery/anti-tank platform could crush any opposing tanks. I suppose "up close" battle would still need tanks.

[MARKUSPRIME]

The M1A2 and the challenger 2 will trounce any soviet err russian tank including the T-90.

[Paradox]

And another thing, why US army is allways comparing its best weapons with Russian 20 or 30 years old weapons?

Perhaps because the vast majority of tanks used in the world ARE 20 or 30 years old?

[Yo-Yo]

So, how did we get hold of a T-72? The Pols?

Saddam was kind enough to leave us a couple in the desert...

[ASA Vet]

Cool military equipment ping

[Hand em their arse]

Reason #1 in my opinion that we need to keep control of both houses of Congress this November, and the White House in '08.... If we don't, expect all of this to be scrapped!!!

And all of the "I'll stay home before I vote for XYZ Republican", consider the possibility of such a scenario...

[American in Israel]

And another thing, why US army is allways comparing its best weapons with Russian 20 or 30 years old weapons?

Because we are pretending that Russia keeps its word and is not our enemy. All the old munitions that Russia made Billions on selling to the terrorist nations around the world are the target.

Just trying to put the fires out started by a greedy pyromaniac.

[magoo70804]

Now, if somehow they could work in the term 'tortue' and leak it to the New York Times...ah, well, one can only hope...

[ASA Vet]

The Soviet T-72 wasn't being compared.
It was being used as an otherwise useless test target.

[Yo-Yo]

Hitting mouving tarbeg with tank gun isnt something as achievent, but regular duty. T-72?

I suppose the point was that a round acquired, tracked, and hit a moving target. It could have been a cardboard cutout instead of a T-72.

All the T-72 provided was a few inches of armor to penetrate with the warhead. I can't imagine that with all of the guidance electronics onboard, that there's much room left for a HEAT charge.

[Dick Vomer]

when you're walking down a street and there is a house with a bunch of bad guys ...surrounded by a bunch of other houses that have bad guys.... tanks are really kewl....

It does this really neat thing ...... it makes doors where walls used to be and scrambles the guts of anybody inside. ..... Gawd, I just get all warm and fuzzy thinking about tanks.....

I'm not a tanker, but just like tons of metal attached to a huge gun.