[Thread] A loose collection of Tweets remarking on similar weapons systems, their apparently unrelated launchers and related thoughts on UK kit.
In 2005 Thales promoted the THOR launcher, as seen on the Discovery Channel's Future Weapons mounted on a Pinzgauer. It was developed to launch the Starstreak HVM as well as be M299 common in order to launch Hellfire.
Jump to 2015. Lockheed Martin demonstrate their Long Range Surveillance and Attack Vehicle (LRSAV). It used the latest Cobham Weapon Launcher position (WLP-1000) as the base.
The WPL-1000's M299 launchers were rearranged and wrapped in a protective shell before mounted to a Patria AMV. Here, a Hellfire missile is being launched from its M299 rail.
DAGR is a guided rocket akin to APKWS that also uses a Hydr-70 as its base. It is modified to also be launchable from a Hellfire's M299 rail. Here's the same LRSAV turret firing a DAGR at a target.
One of the Lockheed Martin teams developing the LRSAV was located in Ampthill, England. In 2014 this team used the WPL-1000 base on a different style turret sporting a Mk44 30mm and Javelin missiles. This video shows a test launch. Note the platform...
While LM were test firing Javelin from their WPL-1000 based turret in the UK in 2014, LM were also test firing DAGR from their JLTV entry, this time using the lighter base version of Cobham's Weapons Launcher Positioner.
As mentioned, DAGR is similar to APKWS and based on Hydra 70. A missile in a similar ballpark is the multirole Martlet LMM/FASGW(L) based on the Starstreak HVM. It is launchable from HVM launchers and can engage land, sea and air targets with a tri-mode warhead.
Although THOR itself did not make it into service, the Stormer HVM launcher turret did. We are looking forward to seeing images and videos from the trials of Martlet being fired from Stormer turret.
The UK is in need of more vehicle mounted support weapons to back up the Army's Section-carried systems. We have discussed the benefits of UGV's and vehicle RWS mounting 30x113mm to replace .50 cal and AGL/GMG with a single system.
It would also be prudent to bring Martlet and either Javelin/MMP or Brimstone together with the Section/Platoon's vehicles to supplement the Platoon/Section itself and cover the gap between the Section/Platoon and the Cpy/Btln heavier support systems.
/FIN
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