"“We have lent a huge amount of money to the U.S. Of course we are concerned about the safety of our assets. To be honest, I am definitely a little worried.” "


Chinese premier Wen Jiabao 12th March 2009


""We have a financial system that is run by private shareholders, managed by private institutions, and we'd like to do our best to preserve that system."


Timothy Geithner US Secretary of the Treasury, previously President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.1/3/2009

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

More Toys for the Boys. GPS mortar passes tests



Alliant technical systems is a $3.1 billion advanced weapon and space systems company employing approximately 15,000 people in 23 states. In a series of flight tests conducted at the Yuma Proving Grounds, (Their Press statement says) they have successfully demonstrated the ballistic characteristics of the most advanced mortar round ever developed for the U.S. Army – ATK’s precision guided mortar munition (PGMM - see pic ) which uses GPS positioning. A total of 49 rounds were shot over three days from a 120mm mortar, achieving all test objectives.

The tests included establishing the appropriate charge weight to ensure proper muzzle velocity when the round exits the mortar tube; evaluating range performance, obtaining aeroballistics data and verifying structural integrity at hot, cold and ambient temperatures. Secondary objectives included feedback from mortar operators on the handling of the new PGMM round and collection of mortar interior environment data.

ATK and the U.S. Army have established an extensive test regimen to ensure that the first PGMM production rounds will be ready for delivery no later than 2010.

PGMM is an advanced weapon system that a precise, multi-purpose indirect fire capability that can fly in excess of seven kilometers and impact within one meter of the target.(!) It will be able to defeat protected enemy with low collateral damage in 2 rounds or less.


Splits: 11-Jun-02 [3:2], 10-Sep-01 [3:2]

Recent blogs on same topic here

2 comments:

Stef said...

... presumably they can also home in on pay-as-you-go cell phones and the rfid enabled national identity cards with a few simple modifications too

ziz said...

In a BBC World Service Program in January about Mobile phones an Americam talked of sending JDAM's down a mobile phone signal .... he was talking about the attempt on a cafe / restaurant in Baghdad just prior to the war ... illegal invasion and occupation ... so no doubt that would be easy peasy... although a bit restricted as to range of course.

Might be useful for quail shooting ...?

(C) Very Seriously Disorganised Criminals 2002/3/4/5/6/7/8/9 - copy anything you wish