Article

2006-12-13 Science & Technology

Excalibur Lost in Neverwhere: Like Civil Service -Can't be Fired, Won't Work

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Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2006-12-13 08:20|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Versus the cost of having an A-10 overhead with GPS guided loads? Remember the object is to get ordnance on target, not particularly how it got there.

Posted by Procopius2k 2006-12-13 09:58|| 2006-12-13 09:58|| Front Page Top

#2 Probably an intra-service fight for bucks. The arty boys are getting antsy about all the new high tech toys that are replacing the need for dumb old arty guns. So, they need to jump on the high tech bandwagon.

Posted by AlanC">AlanC 2006-12-13 11:07|| 2006-12-13 11:07|| Front Page Top

#3 How about using regular (approx 150$ per) rounds and apologizing afterward?

Posted by gromgoru 2006-12-13 11:25|| 2006-12-13 11:25|| Front Page Top

#4 I used to work in the test and measurements for the Air Force and RARELY do you get an operational product that does everything you want. When they tested the Bradley 60 minutes did a big report on how many problems were found during testing. DUH! Testing and especially field or operational tests is where problems are identified and then if possible corrected. If we tossed a project every time it ran into problems during testing, our forces would be running around with muskets and pikes. FYI I saw a discovery channel test of the Excalibur and if they get teh kinks out it will be one bad ass weapon.

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2006-12-13 11:34|| 2006-12-13 11:34|| Front Page Top

#5 Cyber Sarge, I have a musket (but no pike), and THAT's buggy too !

I'm inclined toward gromgorru's suggestion, frankly (acknowledging that there is a case for precision solutions such as the Indian's discovered, but in those cases why not just use MLRS ?)

Posted by Carl in N.H.">Carl in N.H. 2006-12-13 12:12|| 2006-12-13 12:12|| Front Page Top

#6 I think a GMLRS rocket costs a whole lot less than Excalibur and covers 4 times the area.

Posted by ed 2006-12-13 13:30|| 2006-12-13 13:30|| Front Page Top

#7 Eventually, artillery will need to create a running shoot capability like the M-1 Abrams. That is, a 155MM or 8" gun that can accurately deliver rounds while the gun is moving at 35mph.

Such a system would also probably have to have an anti-armed-UAV AA system on the same carriage, as armed UAVs would be its chief threat.

Posted by Anonymoose 2006-12-13 15:04|| 2006-12-13 15:04|| Front Page Top

#8 In the chaos/fog of War = Battles, Grunts are NOT gonna want to stick around no matter what weapon is incoming or who's doing the firing - IF THE ARMY-USDOD WANTS NANO-PRECISION = PERFECT STRIKE, BETTER TO DEV SMART LAWS + RIFLE-FIRED MISSLES. Remember the RIFLE GRENADE? BATTLEFIELD ROBOTICS? Telescopic/Transformation Tech > part of the future LAND WARRIOR SYSTEMS was for Grunts = Squad/Fire Team Specialists to be carrying around Micro-UAVS that explode on target, i.e. "FLYING/WINGED GRENADES" can fly thru windows, around corners, and behind Walls + Rooftops???

Posted by JosephMendiola 2006-12-13 19:51|| 2006-12-13 19:51|| Front Page Top

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