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Home , AT4, Humvee, M72 LAW, Mortar (weapon), Recoilless rifle

M1117 armored security vehicle

tar systems include the 60 mm, 81 mm and 120 mm mortars and related equipment. Fire-control systems, used to calculate missions, include new, improved systems like the mortar fire-con- trol system-heavy (MFCS-H) and the light- weight handheld mortar ballistic com- puter (LHMBC). The M224 60 mm mortar weapon sys- tem is a lightweight, high-angle-of-fire, smooth-bore, manportable, muzzle-loaded mortar with improved rate-of-fire capabili- ties. The M224 consists of the following components: M225 (tube), M170 bipod assembly, M7 baseplate, auxil- tillery combat observation lasing teams Product Manager Excalibur iary baseplate and the M64A1 sight unit. (COLTs) in both heavy and brigade The Product Manager Excalibur (PM Ex- The M224 fires the complete family of 60 combat teams, the Armored Knight will calibur) is developing Excalibur, a preci- mm , such as high explosive, combine the proven armored security vehi- sion, autonomously guided, long-range ar- smoke, illumination, infrared illumination cle with the M707 Knight mission equip- tillery system. and practice cartridges. With ranges from ment package. The XM982 Excalibur is a 155 mm preci- 70 meters to 3,500 meters, the M224 meets The resultant M1200 Armored Knight sion-guided round with extended lethality, range and weight requirements will provide COLTs with increased armor range. Already being fielded to warfight- for light forces without an additional trans- protection, payload and agility. ers and successfully employed in combat portation requirement. Marine and Land Systems is presently un- operations, Excalibur uses GPS precision- The M252 system is a der contract with the U.S. Army for 107 guidance technology to provide accurate, smooth-bore, muzzle-loaded weapon that modified ASVs to be used as the base vehi- first round fire-for-effect capability in an replaced the M29A1 mortar. It features a cle for the M1200 Armored Knight produc- urban setting. high-rate-of-fire, extended range, improved tion. Excalibur is approximately 1 meter in lethality and improved overall system char- length and weighs 106 pounds. Its 40-kilo- acteristics. The entire family of 81 mm am- AMMUNITION meter range and high accuracy result in in- munition can be fired by the M252. The creased lethality through a decrease in re- M252 consists of the following components: The Program Executive Office for Am- quired volume of fire per engagement. M253 cannon (tube), M177 bipod, M3A1 munition (PEO Ammo) has the mission to Excalibur 1b is currently in competitive baseplate and the M64A1 sight unit. develop and procure conventional leap- development and testing. The M120/M121 120 mm Mor- ahead munitions to increase combat power tar System is a smooth-bore, muzzle-load- to warfighters. Project managers within Product Manager Mortars Systems ed, high-angle-of-fire weapon that re- the PEO include: Combat Ammunition The Product Manager Mortars Systems placed the M30 4.2-inch mortar, providing Systems, Close Combat Systems Maneu- (PM Mortars) is responsible for weapon increased range, lethality, illumination and ver Ammunition Systems and Joint Ser- and fire-control systems and for the devel- smoke screening effectiveness over the vices. opment of the precision-guided mortar previous system. It consists of the M298 Project Manager Combat Ammunition munition (PGMM), a new precision mortar barrel assembly, M190/M191 bipod assem- Systems (PM CAS), for example, is respon- round currently under development. Mor- bly, the M9 baseplate and the M67 sight. sible for equipping soldiers with all tube- launched, indirect-fire munitions and mor- tar systems for the Army’s cur- rent, and Future Forces. Under the Single Manager for Conventional Ammuni- tion (SMCA) responsibilities, PM CAS pro- cures ammunition for other services. The PM does this through life-cycle program management of artillery and mortar prod- Soldiers carry an ucts in precision-guided munitions, smart Excalibur round. munitions, conventional munitions, mor- tar weapons systems, mortar fire-control systems and / setters. Organizations within PM CAS include Product Manager Excalibur, Product Man- ager Mortars Systems, the Conventional Ammunition Division and the Business Management Division.

October 2009 I ARMY 371 The 120 mm battalion mortar system pro- Both 120 mm mortar system configura- pressures generated during firing. vides close-in and continuous indirect-fire tions use graphic scales, and M19 The M313 consists of an 81 mm mortar support to maneuver forces and can rap- plotting boards, firing tables and the M23 tube similar to the current M253 tube, a idly respond to threats. The battalion mor- mortar ballistic computer. The system is spacer and a mock 120 mm tube which al- tar must move frequently to avoid compatible with the M2 aiming circle, M45 lows access to the 81 mm tube’s . counterfire and maintain continuous fire series boresight equipment, M14 aiming The system uses the breech cap from the support to advancing friendly forces. posts and the M58/59 aiming post lights. tactical 120 mm tube to provide more real- This mortar system has been fielded for The mortar fire-control system is currently ism in training. use in mechanized infantry, armor and cav- being fielded (see below), which will The M313 retains all the performance alry units with the M1064A3 tracked mor- vastly improve all fire-control aspects of characteristics of the M253 81 mm mortar tar carrier (M121). Light units use a towed the system. tube used with the M252 mortar system. version of the mortar, which is transported The XM326 Stowage Kit (Quick Stow) The M313 is approximately half the cost of by the M1101 trailer (M120), and will is a 120 mm mortar improvement. The the M253, weighs 4.5 pounds less, and in- mount on the QuickStowTM device for powered device will allow a 120 mm mor- corporates an internal blast attenuation easy emplacement and displacement. tar to be carried as a single unit. The device device, reducing the number of parts and The M120 towed system consists of the uses a mortar support strut to hold the simplifying maintenance and operation. following components: M298 cannon mortar tube, base plate and bipod solidly Other recent government and industry de- (tube), M190 bipod, M9 baseplate and the together. This assembly is emplaced or re- velopment efforts have focused on preci- M67 sight unit. The M120, when trans- covered by a hydraulic driven winch. A sion guidance and extended range op- ported on the M1100 trailer, is primarily manual lift winch and strap are also avail- tions. towed by a high-mobility, multipurpose able for use as a manual backup. Once the The M95/M96 Mortar Fire-Control Sys- wheeled vehicle (). 120 mm mortar is emplaced, the support tem (MFCS) is a revolutionary improve- The M121 carrier-mounted mortar sys- strut is disengaged and the hauling plat- ment in mortar fire-control capability, link- tem consists of the M298 cannon, M9 base- form is moved before mortar firing begins. ing mortar fires with the digital battlefield. plate (for ground mount mode), M191 bi- The M313 Training Insert is a subcaliber MFCS provides digital fire-control capabil- pod, an adapter kit for mounting in the insert used to reduce the life-cycle training ity for mortar carrier vehicles. It also pro- M1064A3 and the M67 sight unit with an costs of the M120/M121 battalion mortar vides digital connectivity with AFATDS, 3 extension assembly. The turntable pro- system by approximately $33 million per mil azimuth and 1 mil elevation pointing vides a 90-degree area of fire. The adapta- year. The M313 will replace the M303 in- accuracy, no crew dismount and ballistic tion kit has a breech piece socket, bipod sert. The M313 is capable of firing the 300 calculations within 10 seconds. MFCS support, travel clamp assembly, step as- series and newer 800 series 81 mm ammu- combines a highly accurate weapon point- sembly and brackets to mount the mortar nition. The M303 is restricted from firing ing device, an inertial navigation/position into the M1064A3. the 800 series ammunition due to higher system and a digital communications ca- pability embedded in the fire-control com- puter to create a highly responsive and ac- curate fire-control system. The system al- lows mortar crews to send and receive digital call-for-fire messages, determine the pointing and position of the weapon, and calculate ballistic solutions. The mor- tar fire-control system is made up of the following hardware that is ruggedized for use in combat, in all types of weather, and in vehicles: pointing device (TALIN Datasheet), commander’s inter- face, gunner’s display, driver’s display, GPS PLGR, power distribution assembly and cables. Mortar fire-control system ca- pabilities provide significant enhance- M136 AT4 light ments in survivability, accuracy and re- antiarmor weapon sponsiveness, while providing a link to other digital fire-control network assets. Most notably, since the system can receive a fire mission on the move, MFCS allows mortars to stop, fire and move in less than one minute—down from the current 8/12 minute (day/night) standard. A mortar can utilize split operations without a crew dismount, allowing for dispersed operations. Accuracy of the mortar is also increased by a factor of three. All of these advantages increase the survivability and responsiveness for mortars on the future battlefield. A planned improvement for the MFCS is the XM150 Dismounted Mortar System. service Marine Corps/Army system that Networked Munitions, Force Application, The XM150 dismounted mortar system is calculates the ballistic solution for the en- Special Projects and Shoulder Launched similar to the M95 120 mm, M121 carrier tire family of fielded U.S. mortars and Munitions and Pyrotechnics. mounted mortar system in that it will be their complete inventory of ammunition. Representative program examples from an add-on system to an already fielded With the M23 mortar ballistic computer Product Manager Special Projects and mortar system: the 120 mm M120 towed currently being phased out of the U.S. Shoulder Launched Munitions include the mortar system with the Humvee fire direc- Army inventory, the LHMBC has been de- M136/AT-4, AT4-CS, M141, UAW and M72 tion center vehicles. It will also serve as a veloped to meet U.S. Army and U.S. Ma- series. platoon-level digitally integrated fire-con- rine Corps requirements for a lightweight The M136 AT4 Light Antiarmor Weap- trol system consisting of position/naviga- handheld ballistic computer to support on (AT4) is the Army’s primary light anti- tion, weapon pointing and ballistic com- dismounted operations. weapon. It is a recoilless used putation. The primary differences between primarily by infantry forces for engage- the dismounted MFCS and the heavy Product Manager Close Combat ment and defeat of armor threats. The ri- MFCS are their base vehicle platforms, Systems fle’s design permits accurate delivery of an power requirements and need for certain The Project Manager Close Combat Sys- 84 mm high-explosive antitank warhead components to be manportable. tems includes Product Managers for Intelli- providing excellent penetration capability The M32 Lightweight Handheld Mor- gent Munitions systems (IMS), Counter- and lethal after-armor effects. tar Ballistic Computer (LHMBC) is a joint mine and EOD, IED Defeat/Protect Force, The system weighs approximately 15

October 2009 I ARMY 373 defeat munition (BDM)/SMAW-D shock damage contributes to the weapon’s high reliability. The system weighs 7.5 kilograms and has an effective range of 300 meters. The AT4-CS is a self-contained weapon consist- ing of a free flight, fin-stabilized, rocket- type packed in an expendable, one-piece, fiberglass-wrapped tube. There pounds and is manportable. The AT4 sys- are two versions: high penetration and re- tem consists of a free flight, fin-stabilized duced sensitivity. rocket packed in an expendable, one-piece, The M141 Bunker Defeat Munition fiberglass-wrapped tube. The launcher is (BDM)/SMAW-D is a shoulder-launched watertight for ease of transportation and munition that meets an urgent U.S. Forces storage. Command requirement to fill the “Bunker The M136 AT4’s warhead uses an ex- Buster” void in the Army inventory. The tremely destructive, 440-gram shaped- manportable system is highly effective charge explosive that can penetrate more against targets, including fortified posi- than 14 inches of armor. PM CCS discon- tions (earth and timber ), and is tinued purchase of the AT4 in favor of its also capable of breaching masonry walls newest iteration, the AT4 confined space and neutralizing light armored vehicles at system. ranges of 15 to 500 meters. The AT4 Confined Space (AT4-CS) is a The SMAW-D system is fully opera- manportable, single-shot, disposable anti- tional at 11 meters, making it an optimum armor shoulder-fired munition that can be weapon for military operations in urban fired from a confined space. It significantly terrain. increases the soldier’s ability to fight in an The Urban Assault Weapon (UAW) is the urban environment. The AT4-CS consists Army’s next-generation shoulder-launched of a fiberglass-reinforced launching tube munition. It is designed for use by the ob- fitted with a firing mechanism, pop-up jective force warrior to dominate complex sights, a carrying sling, protective covers and urban terrain in order to fight and fin- and bumpers. The recoilless design is supe- ish the enemy. UAW will also contribute to rior to that of rocket-type weapons for con- survivability by enabling soldiers to en- fined space applications. Resistance to gage targets from protected positions

374 ARMY I October 2009 without exposing themselves to enemy The Ground Standoff Mine Detection The Airborne Surveillance, Target Ac- fires and effects. System (GSTAMIDS) Block 0 is an up- quisition and Minefield Detection Sys- The UAW will be a disposable, shoulder- grade of the current IVMMD system. Its tem (ASTAMIDS) detects, locates and fired weapon capable of defeating light ar- primary mission is route clearance. The de- identifies ground targets, minefields and mored vehicles and personnel within tection vehicle is teleoperated from a mine- obstacles; determines ranges to ground bunkers or behind masonry and brick walls. protected control/clearance vehicle, which targets; and designates for attack by laser- It will not require any maintenance or a automatically detects and marks all metallic guided munitions. dedicated gunner, and will use existing or and nonmetallic antitank mines. Antitank ASTAMIDS provides support to the future night sights. The UAW will replace mine detection capability is enhanced brigade combat team (BCT) and the modu- the M72A3 LAW, M136 AT-4 and XM141 through maturing ground-penetrating lar BCT force on a single UAV payload. bunker defeat munition. radar, enhanced metal detection and in- When integrated on the unmanned aerial The M72 Light Antiarmor Weapon frared camera subsystems. The edges of the vehicle, ASTAMIDS will provide the capa- (LAW) is a lightweight, self-contained, swept path are also marked. bility to conduct reconnaissance, surveil- antiarmor system consisting of a 66 mm With the advent of the Army’s objective lance and target acquisition (RSTA), target rocket packed in a compact, disposable force transformation, the Ground Standoff designation, and minefield and obstacle launcher. It is manportable and may be Mine Detection System (GSTAMIDS) detection. fired from either shoulder. The launcher, Block 1 Program, built on GSTAMIDS This multifunction capability is made which consists of two tubes, serves as a Block 0, was restructured to meet the coun- possible by a multispectral payload of watertight packing container for the rocket termine requirements for Army modern- daylight TV, midwave infrared and multi- and houses a percussion-type firing mech- ization. spectral imaging sensors operating in the anism that activates it. The M72 LAW is In support of the Engineer School’s as- visible and infrared spectrums. This multi- capable of penetrating half a foot of armor, sured mobility concept in forward areas, functionality is augmented even further by with an effective range of up to 220 meters. the unit of action will need to conduct an eye-safe laser range finder, laser illumi- countermine operations. GSTAMIDS will nator and laser designator (LD). The hard- Product Manager Countermine and be installed on two multifunction utility/ ware is integrated into a highly stabilized EOD logistics equipment (MULE) countermine gimbal that uses advanced “step and The Product Manager Countermine and (CM) vehicles. GSTAMIDS will detect and stare” technologies to scan the ground in EOD focuses on the Army’s ability to de- mark mines, temporarily mark the lane nadir or off-nadir modes. tect, mark and neutralize mines, including and bypass or neutralize antitank mines Advanced automatic detection software planning and executing minefield clear- along a 4-meter path on primary and sec- processing of ASTAMIDS imagery allows ance. Developed products integrate state- ondary roads at a speed of 5 to 15 kph. for near-real-time operations in various of-the-art technologies into handheld, Each MULE-CM contains a complete set worldwide environments, day or night, by ground and airborne detection systems as of detection, marking and neutralization exploiting fused multispectral images and well as breaching, neutralization and capabilities. The two MULEs will be con- other advanced concepts. This develop- clearing systems to assure soldier mobility trolled by a manned ground vehicle. The ment will provide a combined minefield and provide force protection. MULEs will proceed forward at maximum detection and an enhanced RSTA/LD capa- One example, the AN/PSS-14 Mine De- speed to a region of interest (ROI) as de- bility that does not currently exist. tecting Set (formerly known as Handheld fined by situational awareness. The GSTA- The Husky Mounted Detection System Standoff Mine Detection System [HSTA- MIDS will perform its mission, then pro- (HMDS) provides the warfighter with en- MIDS]) is a vast improvement over today’s ceed to the next ROI. hanced capabilities to detect improvised ex- metallic handheld mine detectors. It plosive devices (IEDs) and antitank employs a state-of-the-art metal detec- mines along roads with increased op- tor and ground penetrating radar, erational tempo. which are coupled with an advanced The IED Interrogation Arm pro- microprocessor array and software to vides standoff detection of IEDs using achieve a high probability of detection a probing/digging tool to expose ob- (in excess of 95 percent) for both large jects and a metal detector/visible and small metallic and low-metallic camera to identify targets. It has a antitank and antipersonnel mines. working range of more than 26 feet It also significantly reduces the and is capable of moving objects up to number of false targets or alarms. If a 200 pounds. This arm can be used on mine is detected, audio cues alert the both the RG-31 and Husky counter- operator. IED vehicles, having the same capa- Built-in warning and test equip- bilities for each platform. ment also alerts the operator of po- Attached to either the RG-31 or tential system malfunctions and as- JERRV mine clearance vehicles, the Ve- sists maintenance personnel in fault hicle Optics Sensor System (VOSS) identification. The result is a greatly is a powerful network of daytime TV, improved system that protects the night vision and thermal capabilities soldier and enhances his/her ability that is able to locate IEDs, and to detect land mines. other threats at greater stand-off dis- The AN/PSS-14 weighs approxi- tances. A stabilized camera allows for mately 8 pounds, uses standard bat- the detection of IEDs while mobile, in teries and can be operated by a single day or nighttime conditions. The cam- soldier. era’s ability to record video of opera- The AN/PSS-14 is also being pro- tions allows for after action review, cured by the U.S. Marine Corps as training and mission briefing for their advance mine detector. AN/PSS-14 mine detecting set route-clearance operations.

October 2009 I ARMY 375