Indirect Fires Modernization Project - C3/M777 Replacement

[Kirkhill]

I was just in Redcliff for a funeral on Saturday and took the opportunity to cruise the western boundary of Suffield. Kind of depressing seeing all those empty hangars.

One thing struck me, beside not being able to remember the areas we trained in: the largest base in Canada - 40 km from Ralston to Jenner.

40 km is the range of the Switchblade 600, without hand off.

This thing has a range of 100 km.

One box can pick out a target anywhere in Suffield, do its own recce, allow the operator to pick out a target, prosecute it, conduct damage assessment and prepare follow-on actions.

I saw a train roll past with over a hundred 40 foot containers, equivalent to 80 of these LM 20 ft containers.

How many could be parked unattended but mutually supporting all over the Suffield range? Or better yet, within 100 km of the Lone Pine?

To my mind the advantage is not weight of fire it is the area of influence.

 

[KevinB]

The best things about the Conex box launcher setups -- Conex boxes are everywhere - they do not scream threat.

 

[Kirkhill]

The best things about the Conex box launcher setups -- Conex boxes are everywhere - they do not scream threat.

Lockmart seems to agree with you.

Lockheed Live-Fires Kodiak Containerized GMLRS Launcher

Lockheed Martin has completed the first test of a containerized launcher designed to fire Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System munitions.

thedefensepost.com

Lockheed calls its GRIZZLY containerized launcher production-ready

Lockheed Martin posted a new video of live-fire testing for GRIZZLY, its containerized missile launcher, describing the system as production-ready and built to add mobility to distributed weapons. "Built fast. Built flexible. Built for the mission. GRIZZLY is an affordable,

defence-blog.com

Lockheed’s GRIZZLY C-UAS system downs attack drone in live-fire demo

The live-fire demonstration paired the radars, Sanctum software and launcher to destroy the target at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.

www.militarytimes.com

....

The Grizzly is interesting. The container seems more like a subterfuge than a tactical necessity. The all axis 4-Rail launcher seems as if it could be mounted anywhere to launch missiles vertically and horizontally and every angle in between.

Compatible missiles seem likely to be Hellfire/Brimstone/JAGM, Hydra 70s/APKWS/Stinger/NGSRI and anything else that uses the common rail like the NASAMs launcher (AIM-9 / ASRAAM / ESSM)

 

[KevinB]

Lockmart seems to agree with you.

Great minds and all that

....

The Grizzly is interesting. The container seems more like a subterfuge than a tactical necessity. The all axis 4-Rail launcher seems as if it could be mounted anywhere to launch missiles vertically and horizontally and every angle in between.

The Container is a standard transport method -- during GWOT the C-RAM/Point Defense CIWS Phalanx systems were all containerized.
Simply ship them to where they needed to be, and then run power and control wiring.

Now systems are fairly standalone - being able to link to fire control via integrated tactical network network systems, and while external power can be supplied - most have APU’s to provide stand alone power for times when required.

Compatible missiles seem likely to be Hellfire/Brimstone/JAGM, Hydra 70s/APKWS/Stinger/NGSRI and anything else that uses the common rail like the NASAMs launcher (AIM-9 / ASRAAM / ESSM)

All of which are frankly way way too expensive for C-UAS/C-RAM requirements.

We need to come to the understanding that 20-50mm cannon and energy systems are the only cost effective manner of C-UAS/C-RAM when align with the scope and scale they needs to be available at.

Some of the Mini and Micro Missile systems are expected to be affordable enough to use against Drone Swarms in the thousands - I am hopeful - but still view them as AN option, not THE option.

Air Defense against enemy aircraft and/or ballistic missiles can be conducted with expensive interceptors as those are both expensive and limited items for most foes, but the cost of not interdicting them is exceptionally high that the cost benefit falls in favor of using high end expensive munitions in the defense.