Posted on 11/05/2006 4:48:29 PM PST by Dubya
Army and Marine troops battling insurgents in the streets and urban neighborhoods of Iraq now have a potent new weapon at their disposal, thanks to the rocket scientists at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Grand Prairie.
A recently released video shows U.S. troops in an unidentified Iraqi city under fire from snipers in the upper floors of a three-story building. An Abrams tank fires several rounds with its heavy cannon at the building, with little or no effect on enemy fighters.
A few minutes later, an explosion rips through the building and eliminates the insurgents.
The close-quarters urban combat in Iraq is proving to be a perfect testing ground for the Army's M31 GMLRS, or guided multiple launch rocket system, missile. It's a satellite-guided weapon that, launched from more than 40 miles away, can deliver a lethal 196-pound, highly explosive warhead within a 16-foot-wide circle.
A close-up view of the Iraq video shows the missile streaking down onto almost the exact center of the building's roof before exploding on impact or a split-second after.
(Excerpt) Read more at dfw.com ...
Rove ain't the only magnificent bastard (or b*tch).. *wink*
How dare they fight to win?
They should consult with Kerry, who won three Purple Hearts.
Kinda puts a whole new meaning to indirect fires.
w00t!
Pingy
SWEET.
GPS-guided, to be precise. It's interesting to recall the fact that development of the GPS system was almost cancelled back in the late '70s, because nobody could see what would be so useful for being able to do navigation anywhere and everywhere.
The story goes that the GPS program was saved by its secondary payload -- the Nuclear Detection SUbsystem, designed to detect and pinpoint nuclear blasts. The so-called Vela Incident in 1979 was possibly a nuclear blast (perhaps an Israeli/South African nuclear test). It was the uncertainty about this event, and the promise of global coverage, that put the GPS system back on the funding track.
Filed under "you never can tell...."
Yeah... precision fires.
Ok, someone please explain the advantage over the Abrams. The Abrams can surely put a large explosive shell in the same location.
I'm puzzled why the Abrams failed here.
The advantage I see is that the missile can be steered anywhere within its range on a second's notice and get there fast whereas the Abrams has to travel to the target at vehicle speeds, hence the terrorists are gone.
Have I answered my own question? The terrorists can see/hear the Abrams coming and clear the area before the Abrams fires. The missile is a total surprise that hits them before they run off.
Yeah that's it.
So all that is needed is a close proximity decoy locator.
*sniff*... thatsjestbeautiful...
I mean these things end quicker than you can say Allahoo Akbar or anything else for that matter.
I love happy endings!
It has to do with a big badaboom (rocket) vs. a much less big badaboom (tank round) as well as the precision nature of the threat/target interaction with the bigger badaboom.
...not to mention the difference in the angle of attack.
When are these DUMA$$RATS learn that we are AmeriCANS, and WILL WIN this war against these camel jockeys!!!!
Providing the libs will let the military do it's job....
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