Posted on 12/06/2010 4:19:25 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The first U.S. Marine Corps "instant gunship" arrived in Afghanistan two months ago. Last month, it fired one of its weapons (a Hellfire missile) for the first time (killing five Taliban). Called "Harvest Hawk," the "instant gunship" system, enables weapons and sensors to be quickly rolled into a C-130 transport and hooked up. This takes a few hours, and turns the C-130 into a gunship (similar in capabilities existing AC-130 gunships). The sensor package consists of day/night vidcams with magnification capability. The weapons currently consist of ten Griffin missiles and four Hellfires. A 30mm autocannon is optional.
(Excerpt) Read more at strategypage.com ...
I'd like one with the autocannon and heated seats, please. Can I get that in blue?
Can I hook up an Ipod to it?
sounds like a good idea!
According to the contract, the company will deliver 65 Viper Strike munitions beginning this year to the Joint Attack Munition Systems Project Office within the Program Executive Office Missiles and Space at Redstone Arsenal.
"Viper Strike provides the right characteristics needed to support our warfighters in the current fight. It gives high precision and agility to hit targets in complex terrain and with very low collateral damage," said Steve Considine, programs director, Aviation and Weapons for Northrop Grumman's Land and Self-Protection Systems Division, as quoted in the company news release.
Viper Strike is a gliding munition capable of precision attack from extended stand-off ranges using GPS-aided navigation and a semi-active laser seeker. Its small size, precision and high agility provide a very low collateral damage weapon that can be used in the difficult operational environments where U.S. troops may be deployed
You’ll need a BIG driveway...;)
I still like the plain old 105 mms and some 25mms. Nothing beats a hose.
I first became aware of the HARVEST HAWK program a couple of years ago and tried to warn them that making any kind of gunship, much less a HARVEST HAWK type, was much more complicated than bolting on a sensor suite, a fire control system, and a few weapons. That was the lesson that Rockwell International learned in the early 1990’s with the AC-130U program.
How good will HARVEST HAWK be? As long as it it's working for a ground force commander in the close support roll it will probably do okay - something along the lines of the late era AC-47 and early AC-130As. Get away from that mission profile and I expect it to have some serious issues.
Now, if AFSOC can get its HAVEST HAWK variant into the field, its about a year late, the grunts on the ground might get the level of support they have needed since 2002.
Irregular Warfare (IW) is surprisingly expensive when it comes to material and men because there is little effectiveness in long range stand off weapons.
Who me? Been in and around the IW world since January 1969 and gunships for 30 years as a flyer, staffer, tester, and supporting contractor. Yes, it's “Otis”.
Yeah, yeah. I love it how the dealers suck you in. Leather seats? Optional. Satellite radio? Optional. Tank-killing automatic cannon? Sorry, son, it doesn't come with the basic package.
Don't get me started on the trailer hitch.
How much for the floormats?
Is it just me? I think the 30mm autocannon should be standard and the missles are optional.
I remain amazed at how versatile a platform the C-130 has been over the years. What a phenomenal airplane.
Someday, these guys are going to wear out, and we really need something in the pipeline to take their place. Those will be tough shoes to fill.
LOL. The damn dealers... they screw you every time...
We’re still buying new C-130’s, although at very low rates. Why mess with a proven package, when there is nothing better around?
The AC-130 gunships are awesome planes and their firepower keeps the enemy up all night. However, if it is close air support that is the mission and a prop-driven aircraft is needed, could we not somehow reintroduce the two best planes ever at that mission - F4U Corsair and AD Skyraider?
I would have thought we learned our lesson in Vietnam about relying so heavily on missiles.
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