Redstone-Developed Missile Unstoppable

WHNT-19 TV ^ | 7/25/03 | Steve Johnson

[Log]

Huntsville Redstone-Developed Missile Unstoppable

Steve Johnson Reports, 7/25/03

It's called LOSAT, Line of Sight, Antitank. It's a missile that uses no explosives, but can take out any known tank, and any tank that can be foreseen. It has been developed at Redstone Arsenal.

According to the Project Manager of Close Combat Weapons Systems, Col. Lloyd McDaniels, "It gives us the leap ahead in technology to actually be able to defeat anything a potential adversary can give us on the battlefield." LOSAT works by speed and mass. The 109 pound missile travels at mach five, and on impact releases enough kinetic energy to literally make metal catch on fire.

The destructive force of a LOSAT missile is impressive. Earlier this week the Army used ten TOW missiles to destroy a fortified house in Iraq. According to Col. Mike Beasock who works with infantry soldiers who will use LOSAT, "One TOW wouldn't do it. One LOSAT would have penetrated the building and basically ripped it apart. So ten to one, we'd prefer to use a LOSAT in something like that."

LOSAT is just the latest weapons system developed at Redstone Arsenal, but this one has soldiers excited. The system is mounted on a humvee, and is intended to be used by light, mobile units. It would allow them to leave the 70 ton tanks behind, and be more than a match for any enemy armor.

LOSAT is expected to be fielded by 2006, with the 82nd Airborne the first unit to receive what many consider, an unstoppable weapon.

[Log]

Looks like an interesting weapon.

[CWOJackson]

Sweet.

[csvset]

I wonder how long it will be before some a-hole sells the technology to China?

[Pokey78]

Cool!

[VeniVidiVici]

Wonder if the Chinese have the specs on it yet...

[glorgau]

Great offensive weapon, but can a Humvee take a hit? I didn't think so.

[go star go]

i saw this weapon in soldier of fortune years ago. it's basically a big needle fired at high speed. the kenetic energy that is released when the needle hits and pearces the armor generates enormous heat resulting in a very bad day for people and amunition contained within.

[Lancey Howard]

bttt

[DoughtyOne]

I don't see how you use this weapon on a house in a city environment. I think it's a great weapon, but it'd basicly pass through about twenty homes before coming to rest IMO.

This doesn't just penetrate and explode. Isn't it the impact on a hardened target that releases the kenetic energy?

Using this on a tank, a bunker, a hillside might be great, but not on an in-town house type structure.

Can someone eplain why I might be wrong here?

[Captainpaintball]

Wonder if the Chinese have the specs on it yet...

I'm sure some POST 9/11 visa student is sending plans over as we speak.

[Sloth]

[csvset]

Pics & info here

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[WSGilcrest]

This is a stupendous test shot of the LOSAT (Line of Sight Anti Tank missile). It's being launched off of a HUMVEE, which carries two loaded canisters on each side (4 missiles total). The commander/gunner can acquire and track three targets simultaneously, and engage one. Since the missile is hypervelocity (5000 feet per second), and has a maximum range of 5 kilometers, it doesn't take long to reacquire and engage the next two targets. The missile carries a kinetic kill warhead and penetrates all known or projected armor; it is 5 times more lethal than today's hottest tank round. It is also air droppable by parachute and can be sling carried by helicopter. Turn up the sound and watch this baby burn in!

click for video

[dts32041]

Beat me to it.

[sandmanbr]

I love that music...does anyone know the name of that song

[em2vn]

The house referred to was reinforced concrete. It may well have been hard enough to cause the release of kinetic energy.

[2harddrive]

You are right, of course. The best way to attack an ordinary house with it would be to go for the foundation, (if it is a concrete slab) or else target the earth below the house, to release some of the energy upward.

[Bob J]

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[fso301]

Which Chinese company will manufacture this thing for us?

[RightWhale]

One LOSAT would have penetrated the building and basically ripped it apart.

One LOSAT would have made two holes 5 inches in diameter. One on each side of the building. Want ventilation in the hot Iraq summer? Open a couple windows.

[pierrem15]

The system is mounted on a humvee,

I talked somone who saw video of a test launch from a Humvee. Apparently, this thing uses a lot of fuel to get moving quickly. So much so that the back-blast blew the windows out and set the vehicle on fire. The driver stumbled out, smoking, looking like Elmer Fudd after Bugs stuck his carrot in the barrel.

So there are a few bugs to work out :-).

[Yasotay]

As a former TOW Company Commander, I can tell you, without reservation, the LTC is wrong about many things.

The TOW's shape charge would be far more useful in a MOUT environment. The kinetic energy of the LOSAT would probably only put a couple of holes in the building. The TOW HUMVEE can also carry 7 rounds vs 4 for the LOSAT. The thermals on the TOW HUMVEE also seem to be far more flexible. The TOW can rotate 360 degrees ....not so for the LOSAT. We also mounted SAWs on our HUMVEEs. With the LOSAT you still have to wait 3 years. Given a choice I'd take the TOW every time!

[csvset]

Neato!

In other defense related news, A New Generation Of Munitons PDF format

A New Generation Of Munitons Html format

[pierrem15]

Well, looking at the video, maybe its fixed. Although, it didn't look like this vehicle had someone in it.

[freebilly]

WHOOOAAAA!!!!!!

[TheBattman]

It depends - how much security clearance does Hillary have?

When will the next RAT wind up in the White House?

[Ken H]

Could this weapon be used by aircraft such as the Warthog or AC-130?

Are there benefits to this model over current aircraft missiles such as Hellfire?

[csvset]

Speaking of the Hellfire, it has a new and improved warhead.

NAVAIR DESIGNS and BUILDS A MORE POTENT HELLFIRE WARHEAD

[Ken H]

Very impressive. The Hellfire sure lives up to its name.

[JSteff]

"I wonder how long it will be before some a-hole sells the technology to China?"

That is easy to answer... the next democratic president.

[an amused spectator]

What's with the wire-guided thing? Is there a reel attached to the TOW missile that allows the gunner to steer the thing to target?

[Moose4]

There are situations where this BFB (Big Freakin' Bullet) kinetic projectile would be really good--it'd make a hell of a good bunker buster, the sheer release of energy from slamming through a concrete wall at Mach 5ish might make life unpleasant for the people inside. But at the same time, like you said, all this thing would do to a brick building is punch through and keep going.

It's like the difference between a FMJ bullet and a hollowpoint. The metal-jacketed bullet doesn't deform as much and keeps its energy so it can penetrate. The hollowpoint transfers its kinetic energy to the target as it spreads, so it's more useful against "soft" targets. Sounds like that analogy might hold in comparing the hypersonic kinetic projective vs. the TOW or Hellfire--with the added bonus that the TOW/Hellfire blow s**t up real good.

}:-)4

[NewRomeTacitus]

That music?

It sounds, for some reason, like Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) guest-gigging on a Springstein song.

Really now, does anyone know who that is?

[elbucko]

The 109 pound missile travels at mach five, and on impact releases enough kinetic energy to literally make metal catch on fire.

It's a rocket powered rock.

[PhilDragoo]

LOSAT operator, how may I help you?

I left my keys in my tank.

We can fire a LOSAT at it and open it right up.

You can do that? Great.

One moment, sir.

vroooooomka-BOOM

Your tank is open, sir.

Fantastic.

Anything else we can do for you today?

No, I think that'll get it. This LOSAT is great stuff.

Well, thank you, sir, and thank you for using LOSAT.

[DoughtyOne]

Thank you for the comments.

[Yasotay]

Yes .... I saw a wire break once and the missile went totally haywire.... it is also slow, 17 seconds to 3,750 metres. There are many disadvantages to the TOW, but it is a darn god weapon.

[July 4th]

Ouch - that was outstanding!

[Yasotay]

I agree .... kinetic energy is a wonderful thing .... While I would not want to 'test' the physics behind a concrete wall ... the 'spaulding' (sp) effect is not the same as against steel.