I’m way behind on what the Brits have in way of armaments these days, other than what I read here and from Viet Vet friends about Afghanistan.
I remember the Blowpipe because it was a simple but effective system. The US didn’t have much until the Stinger which changed the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan.
I’m glad to hear that someone in England actually realizes what a dangerous world it is out there, and is preparing weapons to face it.
I’m afraid that the US is still in a pre-Pearl Harbor mode re developing realistic and less expensive weapons systems rather than put it all in extremely expensive, limited production save-the-world items.
The LAW in Vietnam was an effective weapon but it was a one-shot job (unlike the old Bazooka which could fire as many rockets as were fed it). The NVA/VC used the RPG very effectively against our bunkers, aircraft (SEAL TEAM 6 Chinook in Afghanistan), and general targets - easy to carry, to fed, to use - 6 pack stiks carried by support troops and one weapons’ operator - IT WORKED).
We never developed or modified the RPG for American troops. STUPID, STUPID, STUPID. ARVN troops did use captured NVA materials.
I wonder how Chile feels about Argentina and the UK?
Does the new Chile socialist leader want to be a mess like Argentina and Venezuela? Or maybe allow some UK ships and aircraft drop by a “good will tour”?