Actually, the 70km range is increasingly inaccurate. The ammo was tested at 92km.
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2009/MFC_110509_LockheedMartinsGuided.html
The MRLS may be "cool" but the ammo called the GMLRS is very "hot" right now.
Actual deliveries only commenced in small numbers to the US Army in 2005 so Singapore is getting the ammo almost at the same time as the US Army. As an example, the USAF got their F-15s in 1976 and F-15Es in 1988 whilst RSAF only got their F-15SGs in 200X.
Unlike prior MRLS ammo, the ammo are GPS guided which gives the MRLS the "70km sniper rifle" nickname.
Also each rocket carries a 200 lb warhead is equivalent to a 500lb Mk-82 aircraft bomb (which carries 192lb of TNT and in comparison is ~8.5 times greater explosive power than the traditional 155mm arty shell). So the army doesn't have to wait for the aircraft support to arrive and the pilot has less worries over getting shot down.
Not only that, each of the 18 HIMARs launchers can fire 6 at one go or 108 rockets at one time, if required compared to traditional single tube arty. Tube arty will take far longer time to achieve the same firepower, is open to counter-arty fire and will actually require more staff per bn.
Most importantly, it wasn't that expensive.
I suppose SAF has the M31 GMLRS with the single warhead 88 kg HE warhead with point / delay fuze.
I wonder if SAF also has the M30 GMLRS DPICM with 404 bomblets. This is highly effective for neutralizing artillery / rocket batteries and infantry targets.
No ICMs.
The M-30 does not comply with US Cluster Munitions Policy which requires a 1% dud rate. Accordingly, production of the ICM variant stopped in 2002.
Indeed, LM has been getting contracts to convert older ICM models to unitary warheads.
That's not to say US doesn't lend SG ICM variants for live firing exercises to get rid of older stock.
As to fuse, every GMLRS rocket has 3 settings, proximity, point detonating and delayed.
rockets flying at 100kph.............so freaking slow ?????
machine guns can shoot them down liao lor...........
Originally posted by Asromanista2001:rockets flying at 100kph.............so freaking slow ?????
machine guns can shoot them down liao lor...........
Its the trucks lar, the trucks.
And for the record, the trucks don't fly. Its the trucks that can travel at 100km/h and the rockets that fly.
flying truck at 100km vs flying machine gun at ........ hmmm i take the truck anytime...
SG is not a signatory to Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Getting hold of older stocks of guided & unguided MLRS rockets with highly effective DPICM payloads is a good deterrent since may other countries are still keeping them & are also not signatories of the CCM.
Also I think ST already has developed or manufactures DPICMs payloads for 155 mm guns. So I presume our guns already have them .
another pure waste of money buying things we'll never use..............
the SAF and the top civil servantsare truly vampires sucking the lifeblood of S'poreans........
Have you heard of a noun called " insurance " ? One pays a lot for it but prays never to be in a position to use it. In the unfortunate event that one really needs to use it , then one will very thankful that it is more than enough to cover the event.
Clearly this is beyond the comprehension of a non Singaporean or a person who does not need to defend our nation.
The roar of full load of rockets from a battery of MLRS raining down on an enemy will be sweet music to the NSMan who is defending Spore on the front line. But I pray this will never happen, but if it does, we know which army will prevail.
I agree. Even the political opposition in Singapore does not adopt a low defense spending stance and that's reflecting the reality of support for the defense budget on the ground.
If Singaporeans are supposed to risk their lives defending foreign talent, at least the best tools should be provided.
[duplicate post]
anyone got a video of this rocket luncher test? :lol: