Article

2020-05-13 Science & Technology

Ramjet-powered artillery round will double the U.S. military’s cannon artillery range to > 100 km.

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Posted by 3dc 2020-05-13 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11129 views ] Top

#1 So the 2Lt FA with the map and the radio is going to be a long way from home.

Posted by Richard Aubrey 2020-05-13 01:03|| 2020-05-13 01:03|| Front Page Top

#2 For when you need to reach WAY out and kick someone in the teeth...

Posted by CrazyFool 2020-05-13 01:15|| 2020-05-13 01:15|| Front Page Top

#3 So if I'm reading this right, it will hit a target fast enough to kinetically kill it. No explosive involved so you can kill the "chicken truck" without excessive collateral damage, .....The goats of the Mideast thank you.

Posted by Thaith Elmeresing6163 2020-05-13 01:28|| 2020-05-13 01:28|| Front Page Top

#4 Herb can't be reached for comment?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2020-05-13 02:54|| 2020-05-13 02:54|| Front Page Top

#5 Seems like the long range will require some sort of GPS guidance.

Posted by gorb 2020-05-13 04:36|| 2020-05-13 04:36|| Front Page Top

#6 I would have thought that something with an engine would be called a rocket or a missile rather than a cannon round.

When I think of cannon I think of round shot or tanks. Oh well I'll learn.

Posted by AlanC 2020-05-13 06:59|| 2020-05-13 06:59|| Front Page Top

#7 Long range artillery shells are already like a weak rocket. It's called Base Bleed.

Posted by Phusotle Dingle5823 2020-05-13 07:23|| 2020-05-13 07:23|| Front Page Top

#8 "I would have thought that something with an engine would be called a rocket or a missile rather than a cannon round"

Artillery is characterized as mortars, cannons, and missiles. The launching mechanism defines the payload. Back in the day we had Rocket-Assisted Projectiles (RAP) fired from the M198 155. We also had the Silver Bullet - nuke rounds.

Bangkok Billy, Capt, USMCR, 1st Bn/11Th Marines and 3rd Anglico

Posted by Bangkok Billy 2020-05-13 07:24|| 2020-05-13 07:24|| Front Page Top

#9 Bangkok Billy. In 1970, was in jump school at Benning with a Marine captain whose career ambition was to call in the New Jersey.

Posted by Richard Aubrey 2020-05-13 07:56|| 2020-05-13 07:56|| Front Page Top

#10 Not to throw a wet blanket but what is the cost per round?

Posted by Woodrow 2020-05-13 08:23|| 2020-05-13 08:23|| Front Page Top

#11 Great minds, Woodrow... must be something in the water. Seems like we're pricing ourselves out of the game. "OK, your allotment for this month is 3 rounds"

Posted by Mercutio 2020-05-13 08:58|| 2020-05-13 08:58|| Front Page Top

#12 Excalibur GPS guided shell > $100,000
PGK GPS guided fuse (no shell) ~$10,000

Who knows what a GPS + Ramjet shell will cost? When the Navy tried for a really long range shell for the 6" Zumwalt cruiser guns, each shell ran about $1 million. Program got cancelled.

Posted by Phusotle Dingle5823 2020-05-13 09:37|| 2020-05-13 09:37|| Front Page Top

#13 U.S. Army’s new 58-caliber Extended-Range Cannon Artillery.
I hate being picky and pedantic (Are you kidding? I love being it!), but it is calibers not caliber.

Posted by AlmostAnonymous5839 2020-05-13 09:42|| 2020-05-13 09:42|| Front Page Top

#14 In 1970, was in jump school at Benning with a Marine captain whose career ambition was to call in the New Jersey.

One of my very few claims to fame was to be the sole FO on comms with the USS Wisconsin during late stages of Desert Storm (aka Desert Souvenir Hunt). No fire missions but 1 grunt had an ND w/his 60. Later went to Benning for my 5 Jump Chump award.

Posted by Bangkok Billy 2020-05-13 09:46|| 2020-05-13 09:46|| Front Page Top

#15 6" Zumwalt cruiser guns

155mm (6.1"). If the Army get this to work, maybe the Zumwalts will finally have working guns.

Posted by Phusotle Dingle5823 2020-05-13 09:56|| 2020-05-13 09:56|| Front Page Top

#16 I happened to see the Michael Mansoor (#2 in the Zumwalt class) underway in San Diego Bay about a year ago. It's a great hulking beast, but it was unsettling to see a combatant ship with no visible weapons. It ain't ever gonna happen, but if we're going to do FONOP's through the Strait of Formosa, I would be delighted to see a couple of Iowa's (or all four) doing it, instead of an LCS and a replenishment ship.

Posted by Matt 2020-05-13 12:23|| 2020-05-13 12:23|| Front Page Top

#17 I used to be excited about stuff like this, but nowadays I find myself wondering how it might be used on us.

Still good to know though.

Posted by charger 2020-05-13 14:44|| 2020-05-13 14:44|| Front Page Top

#18 Sigh , I remember one of the dreams , was buying a bunch of double hulled oil tankers , filling up the space between the inner and outer hull with some kind of stuff ( mixture of ping pong balls and glass ? ) and using the top deck for VTOL or missiles . I wouldn't want to crew one.

Posted by Thaith Elmeresing6163 2020-05-13 23:24|| 2020-05-13 23:24|| Front Page Top

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