Posted on 08/24/2005 5:13:28 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The United States has approved full-rate production of a new Hellfire missile variant, touted by President George W. Bush for its ability to kill guerrillas in urban settings, the missile's manufacturer said on Wednesday.
U.S. commanders in Iraq have asked for more of the rounds, said Lt. Col. Kevin Curry, an Army spokesman at the Pentagon, who added that early versions had already been used there in "limited numbers." More than 1,870 Americans have been killed in Iraq since the war began in March 2003.
The "thermobaric" Hellfire AGM-114N warhead creates an intense, sustained pressure wave that can strike around corners in "caves, bunkers and hardened multi-room complexes," the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin (LMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Corp., said.
The Bush administration and Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon's No. 1 supplier, have described the 27.5-pound (12.4-kg) warhead as highly lethal in enclosed structures while causing only minimal damage nearby.
"In the coming years, there are going to be some awfully surprised terrorists when the thermobaric Hellfire comes knocking," Bush said in a May 27 commencement address at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Lockheed is supplying the Army with 900 AGM-114N warheads under a $90 million pre-production contract awarded in December. The contract also included 180 AGM-114K missiles, the high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) round and conversion of 100 HEAT rounds to the thermobaric configuration.
The AGM-114N is one of four variants of the Hellfire 2 family of missiles that has been used in Iraq, with more than 1,000 missiles fired to date, said Lockheed Martin's Orlando, Florida-based Missiles and Fire Control business unit.
Unlike conventional warheads, which unleash a sharp pressure spike that decays quickly, the thermobaric round includes a highly flammable, fluorinated aluminum powder to make its explosion push harder and last longer.
Designed, developed and built at Naval Air Systems Command in China Lake, California, the thermobaric round was put on a fast track to full production, said Jennifer Allen, a Lockheed spokeswoman.
$90 million for 1180 rounds comes out to about $76,000 a shot. Every time one of these is used, it's like sending a high end Mercedes down range.
Think modern age thermite + willy pete = 'thermobaric' effect
Nasty stuff
It used to be.. "When you care enough to send the very best , send a Hallmark"
Now it's send a HellFire ,,, Woo Hoooo!!!
Hey Muhammid,, INCOMING!!!
Always have to include this, even though it has nothing to do with the subject of the article.
No matter how many times you contact "Rutters" and ask them why they always place that blurb at the end of every Iraq story...you never get a response...
Subliminal messaging there? The MSM just can't resist, even when reporting on a completely unrelated subject.
U.S. commanders in Iraq have asked for more of the rounds, said Lt. Col. Kevin Curry, an Army spokesman at the Pentagon, who added that early versions had already been used there in "limited numbers." More than 1,870 Americans have been killed in Iraq since the war began in March 2003.
DING DING DING DING DING... BINGO! You caught it too!
-------
Reuters has some catching up to do to match AP's 'work' today.
But they're trying. :)
Everything else was about the missle.
Good deal!
Red6
The follow on rounds will be less expensive.
They forgot to report on who killed them: Islamic fundamentalist radicals between the ages of 18-30.
And no matter where the article comes from, they all sound the same.
Think vacuum, and a dude busting like a sausage in a microwave.
It’s not a shake and bake.
Red6
"U.S. commanders in Iraq have asked for more of the rounds, said Lt. Col. Kevin Curry, an Army spokesman at the Pentagon, who added that early versions had already been used there in "limited numbers." More than 1,870 Americans have been killed in Iraq since the war began in March 2003.
The "thermobaric" Hellfire AGM-114N warhead creates an intense, sustained pressure wave that can strike around corners in "caves, bunkers and hardened multi-room complexes," the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin (LMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Corp., said."
The media is our adversary.
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