SP, MLRS and SPAA Developments

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Not there yet but, certainly bears watching...
http://www.janes.com/article/57074/t...improvised-sam

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Well I took some "heat" for submitting this unit back 2011 because some felt it was redundant to the Russian "SMERCH" however, as I've mentioned we're at a point (and beyond) that if we don't start typing units down to their nomenclature we're going to have a difficult time in tracking when units go away and or get improved. Let's take the ABRAMS for example, if we just listed all the current ABRAMS tanks in the USA/USMC OOB's as ABRAMS can you imagine trying to figure which are no longer in service or have been modified? Dates alone cannot tell you the whole story as variants tend to overlap each other-as with the ABRAMS. We do an excellent job with armor and better then average with the rest however, this game is transitioning to either a straight calendar end date extension or some kind've "partitioning" to the new end date, doesn't matter the point being is proper designation of units will ensure the right ones carry on past 2020. Including units that might be redundant. The TORNADO-S was entered as submitted - thank you Don - and the GRAD & SMERCH units in the Russian Army are still on track to be removed from active service in 2020. Russia has just replaced over 40 more Russia rocket artillery units with the TORNADO-S and one more below.
http://www.armyrecognition.com/janua..._11701163.html
http://www.military-today.com/artillery/9a52_4.htm THIS IS A
EARLY UNIT.
http://www.armyrecognition.com/russi...formation.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcRSW_Djq5Q

See Pg. 3 Post #30 APR. 6, 2011 & Pg. 4 Post #35 SEP. 26, 2011 for further info.

Now the following which is in service is designated the TORNADO-G this version apparently was designed to fire their latest anti-armor CM munitions and standard munitions apparently as well. I didn't see it in the OOB, I might've missed it, if so my apologies in advance. However it does further make my point from above.
TORNADO-G/JAN or JUN 2012 (Dates range from 2011 to one I saw that said APR. 2012.)/CREW 2-3/CAB UNARMORED/40 ROCKETS/4x10 LAUNCHER/USE THE CURRENT GRAD/BM-21 ICON NOTE: THE TRUCKS ARE NEWER THEY'LL HAVE SLIGHTLY BETTER CROSS COUNTRY ABILITIES AND SPEED/DESIGNED FOR "SHOOT AND SCOOT" DUE TO NEWER FCS etc./THE REFS INDICATE IT CAN LAUNCH AND CLEAR THE AREA TO 3-4Km BEFORE THE ROCKETS HIT THE GROUND. COULDN'T TELL IF IT'S "ONE AND DONE" SCOOT AND RELOAD OR IF THEY HAVE "RIPPLE LAUNCH" CAPABILITY.
http://www.military-today.com/artillery/tornado_g.htm
http://www.armyrecognition.com/russi..._pictures.html
http://www.deagel.com/Multiple-Launc...002668001.aspx
http://sputniknews.com/military/2015...025004996.html

Regards,
Pat

[DRG]

I can save slots simply by renaming the BM-30 Smerch Pl to 300mm MLRS Pl ,in game terms nothing changes but the name and the Tornado-G is simply a Grad with slight improvements that are, in game terms, irrelevant. Even MT says the new one looks like the old one . This is akin to wanting ( for example , I've seen similar requests but this is made up) an AK-74VT added when we already have an AK-74 but the "VT" version is the locally made copy and people are loosing sleep and wringing hands because when they buy an infantry platoon the troops are carrying just plain 74's and furthermore I am not interesting in adding anything new or removing anything old until it's ACTUALLY in or out of the hands of troops. I know it's hard to believe but government plans to do this or that are frequently wrong . I spent a considerable amount of my surgery recovery time building new Icons for the newly announce Russian equipment upgrades and right now I'm planning on putting them in the SHP files but waiting for their actual delivery to troops before putting them into the OOB's , IDK--I'm on the fence about that because introduction dates for things like this just have a bad habit of getting pushed back repeatidy

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

That sounds like a good fix to me and probably means you can delete the TORNADO-S already in the game unless it's somehow better then the SMERCH as entered already game wise. I guess you can do the same with the GRAD/BM-21 units as well to simplify things as well. I already voiced my opinion out here several times about entering new equipment the F-35 is a prime example, which there news it might get pushed back again. Many want the ARMATA but, no one really has one yet either do they? I'll stick to the timeline we've worked with over the years seems to have worked pretty well to this point anyway.

In the Jet/Plane thread you did mean the gunships were gone as well-right? Just so I can clean up my folders if they are.

Regards,
Pat

[DRG]

off SPAA topic and speaking of things that don't get made........what do you know about the progress and development of the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) .. ??? In a fit of madness I built a full range of Icons for this thing ( they look great like the EFVP did....)

[MarkSheppard]

As of last year, the plan was:

http://www.defensenews.com/story/def...ampv/70728052/

The plan is to go to a preliminary design review this summer and a critical design review next summer, with first delivery in late 2016. From there, intermittent tests will lead to the limited user tests in late 2018. The fielding is not going to be complete until the mid-2020s.

The matter of wheeled versus tracked vehicles is not entirely settled, as other studies are ongoing.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

From the USA PEO GCS office the AMPV is to start a 52 month (~4.3yrs.) Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) process by BAE the contract winner. The EMD once completed will turnover 29 vehicles the Army for evaluation. This process should take about 2-3yrs. based on my tracking of these events as in reality we're dealing with a known, though moderately improved platform. Best guess tracking to somewhere out to 2022/2023. The ref. is dated 24 Dec. 2014. Very much falls in line with what Mark just posted as also one of my sources as you know and the others I'm holding in my APC folder.
http://www.peogcs.army.mil/news/ampv...arded-bae.html
http://www.peogcs.army.mil/ampv.html (Covers models to be built on the bottom of 1st para.)

The home office...
http://www.peogcs.army.mil/index.html

ALSO...since we're at it...

The USMC will see their operational capability with the ACV 1.1 in 2020. This will prove a very hot competition between BAE and SAIC (TERREX 2 8x8) which are both fielding known fully amphibious platforms. It reports had given SAIC an early edge as the TERREX, first seen as a 6x6 platform was the first successful 360 situational awareness APC developed to include an RWS to operate in the same manner. TERREX 1 as it's now referred to was originally developed by TIMOTHY Industries of Ireland. And thought they just made good Beer and Whiskey!?! TERREX (1) was one of my first posts in the APC Thread where I'll re-post this to.
http://news.usni.org/2015/11/24/mari...stems-and-saic

I feel like I'm slowly coming back. I hear some of you already!?! (Used not for it's normal meaning! )

Need I say it-yeah, with an addition-CONTINUING TO TRACK.

Two for one not bad Don.

Regards,
Pat

[MarkSheppard]

This is really far out but the US has started to work on the XM907 ERCA 52 caliber Gun-Howitzer with an eye to applying it towards M777 and M109 modernization programs.

http://defense-update.com/20160329_m777er.html

ERCA involves everything from development of an autoloader for the SPH variant, new propellant, and new projectiles with a maximum range of 70~ km.

They already have a mockup of the new gun barrel (which is 6 foot longer than existing ones) on a M777A2 and are moving it around to find out which combination of barrel counterweights will be the most efficient for mobility.

Attached is a CAD model of the M109A7 with the new ERCA gun. At this point...maybe the turn signal lights are original to the 109.

It'll probably be cancelled like every other US Army modernization effort though.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Well I was going to hold on to this for a while but, Mark gave me a good intro to the next. The ref. concerns the new 2S33 MSTA-SM and KOALITSIYA-SV artillery systems that should be game ready by next year or the following year. What's also interesting considering the source, is the what would appear to be a general but, frank overview of the above mentioned world competitors. Take time to note the source. I'm not going to do all the work after all!?! Anyway...
http://www.armyrecognition.com/march..._52403162.html


Mark yours was interesting but I agree especially after reading this and what I've already read on "PIM", and lets not forget that 19 Trillion Dollar issue here.

Regards,
Pat

[Imp]

10 rounds a minute from a 152MM gun that's rapid, wonder how long it could realistically keep that up. The loader would not be the issue I would guess overheating & wrecking the barrel would be the issue.
Then there's the logistics of actually supplying the ammo, they are big shells.

Changing tack a bit I do wonder how much of this stuff will actually make it into mainstream service.
Russia seem to be waving the flag saying look we can still make good stuff.
My guess though with perhaps the exception of the Armata platform most will see a handful to 30 odd produced & assigned somewhere.