The ATACMS Block 2 initially had problems with the submunition's (BAT) acoustic sensors picking up too much background noise and causing less than adequate performance during tests and evaluations. (Something like a 50% kill ratio)

Although there were some discussions to change from the BATs to the LOCAAS submunition which uses a LADAR instead of acoustic and IR sensors, it seems most of the issues with the BAT submunition have been successfully handled.

The poor performance mixed with the ATACMS's cost which is just shy of 1 million dollars for a missile fully loaded with 13 BATs, nearly got it cancelled, but the system somehow survived.

The First Unit Equipped (FUE) is on schedule for early 2005, upgraded software for AFATDS to calculate fire missions for ATACMS block II and block IIa became available in spring of 2004. The BAT has been upgraded to BAT P3I.

Thank you very much for that.

I salute your knowledge!

I also found some interesting articles on Storm shadow, BAe's stealth stand off missle. Together they would make a formidable pairing!

Since Missiles such as this and LOCAAS get smarter every year in distuingishing targets, I predict that in the near future tanks and ground vehicles will get a mayor overhaul to incorporate silent and stealth features, running on fuel cells, light tanks, based on speed and attack and a low signature composite carbon/keramic skin rather than a thick steel skin that can be easily detected and penetrated anyway by the latest kinetic rods. The (expensive) kinetic rod technology will become more affordable and proliferate eventually to your average RPG insurgent.

Also "soft targets" (read: humans) will need some special suit to lower or morph their infrared signature etc....

Offensive wars , will preferrably be fought with swarms of long range missiles and drones and in case the defender lacks the range (read : the money) to shoot something back, they will be forced to heavily disperse and use tunnels and discourage the attacking party from sending footsoldiers to the theater and physically take possession.

Countries that are outranged/outgunned in this modern conventional warfare will franticaly pursuit nuclear bombs as equalizer/deterrent (we see that happening now).


[edit on 17-2-2005 by Countermeasures]

[edit on 17-2-2005 by Countermeasures]

the future can be stranger than we can imagine.

A sound cannon will disable all munitions, electrical or not. Acoustic waves can be manupulated to affect only human tissue, or only iron steel and aluminum. You can be hiding inside a lead safe, and still be at risk. Wide angle dispersion, or narrow focused beams of sound will disable any mechanical or electrical device. It can scamble your insides, or give your opponent a Lobotomy.

Nuclear, biologics, all obsolete.

I was watching a program on tv a few months ago, about the weapons that where being used Iraq during the main invasion. I remember they showed a computer re-inactment of a missile similer to this, I can't remember what type.
A US tank group came across about 15 Iraqi tanks in an open desert, near no village. They had a bomber with this strapped on so they dropped it on the Iraqi tanks. Each missile engaged seperate targets and destroyed like 13 tanks in one hit!