Remote-controlled weapon serves to protect troops.

Sierra Vista Herald ^ | Bill Hess

[SandRat]

FORT HUACHUCA — Protecting deployed American forces is a concern of military leaders.

Attacks on Combat Operating Bases, Forward Operating Bases and other installations have led to deaths and wounding of U.S. and allied forces within encampments in remote areas, such as in Afghanistan.

But now the Army is containerizing weapons which can be directed by a battle captain in a centralized command post where weapons can be fired remotely, limiting the use of human forces and therefore casualties from direct combat.

For the past few weeks, the Army Electronic Proving Ground with a special team from the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, have been testing adding a Javelin missile to the Containerized Weapon System.

Prior to a scheduled test on Fort Huachuca’s East Range Wednesday — which had to be scrubbed because of a computer problem — EPG had done some environmental testing to include taking the missile to temperatures as high as 160 degrees and as low as 40 degrees below zero, as well as blowing sand and fast flowing water over the Javelin, conditions which the missile could encounter.

Redstone Arsenal Test Engineer Jay Crawford talked about the system, after the test had be canceled, noting when a replacement item is received the launching test will resume, which is expected next week.

During the other tests done on the Javelin by EPG, “everything worked,” he said.

John Dillon a project engineer, said the system is called containerized because it is in a metal container indistinguishable from similar containers on a deployed installation.

When needed, the roof of the container opens and weapons are telescoped up to be fired from the central command on a remote installation. Other weapons certified for use range from machine guns to grenade launchers.

The connection failure between the test site’s remote command area and the Javelin launcher caused the cancellation of the Javelin launch, which would have, as Doug Agee, the assistant product director, said “reached out and touched someone.”

The someone was a tank hulk about a kilometer from where the Javelin would have been fired.

While the test personnel were disappointed Tuesday they have no doubt the next test will see the Javelin launched.

And the Herald/Review will again be on Hill 41 watching the test.

[SandRat]

Battle captains can fire lethal Javelin from a distance

[Resolute Conservative]

Soon our leaders will be able to bypass our troops and fire on us directly, alleviating their fear as to whether our military as a whole will work against the citizenry.

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

No need to get worried. Obamacare will make this impossible. Our debt will make this impossible.