GarryB Wed Dec 05, 2012 10:19 pm
On a related tangent I see KBM have introduced a new model Shturm missile with laser beam riding guidance a bit like Kornet.
The strange thing to me is that they already have the Krisantema with laser beam riding guidance and MMW radio command guidance.
This might be the new model they adapted for the Ka-52s to carry in lieu of the Vikhrs they used to carry, or it might be something different.
It is reportedly being adapted for land, sea, and aerial use, so I suspect they will adapt it for use as a cheap precision weapon for attack helos in all weight classes, and also for UCAV use as well. The original Shturm was already employed on light vessels and MTLB based anti tank vehicles, and was the standard armament of the late model Hinds till the Ataka was introduced for the Havoc and the Hinds.
Apart from a short news article I have not been able to find any more information about the new model missile.
Regarding the Ugroza, it would be a very useful system, that if it could be kept at a reasonable pricing level could be a very very good cost effective system for pretty much all the services.
For use against dispersed ground forces caught in the open unguided rockets are ideal for spreading shrapnel over a large area rapidly, but against targets like trucks and light vehicles they are not accurate enough, while guided anti armour missiles are simply too expensive and of course their heavy warheads are overkill.
A convoy of 20 trucks might be vital to an enemy operation, and being able to take it out with 20 x 80mm guided HE rockets would leave an aircraft like a Havoc with 20 rockets left and 30mm cannon and up to 16 ATGMs or another 40 rockets.
Hitting point targets at max range to reduce the threat of return fire used to mean firing expensive ATGMS... which was OK as long as it got the job done. These guidance packages for unguided rockets means you can get the job done at max range for a lot less, which means you can carry more and use them freely.
The Russians have the advantage of having a range of rocket types, from the largely no longer used 57mm rockets in pods of up to 32, though the 80mm rockets in pods of 20, to the 122mm calibre rockets in the 5 shot S-13 pods, and of course the enormous 266mm rockets in the S-24 single rocket pod.
The 57mm rockets had warheads of about 1kg at most and are no longer used, but the 80mm rockets have warheads of 6-8kgs and are still very effective, while the 122mm rockets are for penetrating aircraft shelters and bunkers and have rather heavier warheads. The S-24 and S-25 rockets have warheads in the 100-150kg range and would devastate most building structures.
Guidance means they can be used at ballistic range which makes the launch platform much safer, yet ensures the effective use of the warhead by getting it into close proximity to the target.