Well I believe the SEP V3 will see service
within the next two years. You must remember we have only 1 tank factory in this country, we can't afford to lose the expertise or manufacturing capability. The new Advanced Multi-Purpose (
AMP)/M829E4 (This 5th GEN round will soon be type-classified as the
M829A4) round is ready for production which means the current fleet of M1A2 SEP V1/V2 tanks will see them first. I'll assume the game engine won't allow for these three separate modes of operation and therefore we'll need to maintain the current AP, HE etc. categories however what is clear is the round (And this will be the
only one carried on the ABRAMS.) will need the PEN values to be increased. There is no doubt in my mind that this round will have a "brain" onboard for how else can it defeat advanced AERA/or APS defense systems, it, has to have some kind laser jamming device on it of some kind. This is not beyond our current munitions capabilities concerning technologies along these lines when you consider Germany/Israel have already fielded an AMP munition of their own or the KSTAM munition for South Korea's K2 that acts more like an ATGW than a "normal" tank round (
KSTAM is a shoot and forget, top attack, self adjusting round with a radar for ground/obstacle avoidance and target acquisition.) The other issue is the
IFLIR, if you remember we had a discussion when I submitted the M1A2 SEP V2 & AH-64E GUARDIAN about the TI/GSR values (These are in this/or PATCH threads.) a couple of years ago, this is just laying the ground work for a "cross roads" decision on how far is too far within the context of the game. I see only really two options at this point 1)We can choose to ignore this but, feel more comfortable about the tanks we've already adjusted out to
TI/GSR 50 (And I still have a couple of more to go.) or 2)Accept the fact that for the last handful of years left in the game we'll have less then a handful of OOB's whose tanks can see further then the rest but as we left it a couple of years ago I wouldn't want to see anything beyond a 55 or 60 value as it would take away from the games core objectives for the players-to have some fun and to use that "mush pot" inside our skulls. Let's face it and using the
M1A2 SEP V2 as the perfect example-when submitted you'll see a quote from the Col. in charge of the SEP V2 Program who basically said "we finally have a FCS system that allows us to see the target beyond/at the range of our current ammo...", that confirmed (battle/or tested) kill range for the ammo was 4500m which means the SEP V2 could
identify (not see but identify-there is a difference here.) a target to 4500m+ or a
TI/GSR of 90-95 enough said.
http://www.armyrecognition.com/ausa_..._11210157.html
Our "Paras" have been wanting this for years now and they just might get it...our own light tank that can be air dropped. There is interest in this from the governmental side to get our Airborne troops back this ground support in the ongoing "asymmetrical" environment the military has been operating in.
My prediction-games end.
http://www.armyrecognition.com/ausa_..._11310152.html
Not where it goes but, since Mark posted it here's one from this past JUN. I was saving and by way of an update the European theater STRYKER's upgrade has been approved the USA is trying to get more upgraded but not likely the whole fleet.
http://www.armyrecognition.com/june_..._11006151.html
Yes tracking this all.
Regards,
Pat
