Posted on 02/23/2010 9:08:22 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
12,000 old missiles a bother for army
Josy Joseph / DNAWednesday,
New Delhi: Dated weapons are a headache. And the army is beginning to realise it as it looks for ways to dispose off — hold your breath — 12,000 missiles.
The anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), which are now over 20 years old, were originally manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and were to serve for a decade. The missiles were on a life extension.
“We have decided to dispose them off, but need to figure out how,” said a senior officer at the army headquarters. He said the 12,000 missiles are presently lying in the army’s ammunition depots across the country.
The missiles — Russian Konkurs produced in India under a licence — could still be used during exercises, he said. But that would mean taking the risk of using outdated ammunition. “Who would want to take that risk?” he asked.
The move also comes at a time when an intense debate is building up over the purchase of a new generation of ATGMs. And, for the first time probably, Israelis and Americans are pitted against each other in an army offer to buy weapons.
According to sources, while the army has formally shown interest in the US-made Javelin missiles, a delegation that visited Israel in November had given its thumbs up to much cheaper Israeli Spike missiles.
Army sources said trials of Spike missiles in Pokhran had failed in the past. But it was a “trouble with a particular lot”. Army sources said a newer version of Spike was successfully test-fired when its delegation visited Israel.
US firms Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, who manufacture Javelin, have been trying hard to sale the missile to the army. The missile’s fire power was demonstrated during a recent exercise.
Ebay?
We used to transfer our war ammunition into the training bunkers after 3 years, when we got a new load of war reserve ammunition. Then we would shoot up the training ammunition in training. One month of war was about what we expected to shoot in 3 years of training.
I’ll bet there are a lot of guys in that army who are thinking, “I know how to get rid of them for you.” They are probably smiling very broadly at the idea, unlike the range masters, who will be wondering who will clean up the mess afterwards.
Looks like the soviet ver of an early series TOW.
here is a tech write up
http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product1697.html
The Indians have an adapter to use the lancher with the MILAN-2 which they seem to like
http://www.india-defence.com/reports-4183
I would think if no legit buyer is not found India may use them up in training assuming they are still safe to fire.
The javelin was a great leap forward from the TOW series but, when compared to the spike, it looks like it needs some upgrading. They are both soft launched, fire and forget systems with tandem charges that defeat explosive reactive armor but the spike gives you the option of correcting the flight path if desired and it can fire from the reverse slope defilade if needed and then pick out a target of opportunity thus preventing exposure of the firing team. On top of that, it’s cheaper. Raytheon and Lockheed Martin need to kick it up a notch ot two I think.
Yes sir! Be the first on your block to be the only person left on your block.
A handy gadget for a neighbourhood watch; it would definitely keep gang bangers out of the neighbourhood.
How about blowing them up in a mountain to simulate what a low yield suitcase nuclear weapon would do in an underground transit system? Stupid maybe, but blowing stuff up is always fun.
How about a wild 4th of July celebration...
Or a wild August 15th celebration...
Catholic Assumption of the Virgin Mary Day?
How about starting a list of 12,000 potential targets in Iran.
I think it’s the Indian republic day.
I have an idea. Put all of the missiles in a big hole in the ground, then sell raffle tickets, where the winner gets to push the button to blow them up.
Ok, now it makes sense...
Ok, I found it. Thank you.
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