Zephyr Net

Semi-active LASER guided rockets look like they are finally going to happen.
With some companies focusing on the 2.75" and now MBDA US working on the mighty 5" Zuni ( already tested at China Lake ) it looks like this very cool and flexible idea is going to finally bear fruit. Pretty much anything that can slave a LASER will be able to mount multiples of these rockets with a range of close to 10miles and a CEP of something less than 6ft. Kind of a poor mans Hellfire without the non line of sight trajectory options.
I remember seeing video of Harriers with something like 12 racks of SNEB rockets blasting off in ripples. If those were guided and had the flechette warhead it would be pretty awesome!

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Now that sounds like the kind of weapon I should add to FAF!

I have 1 open slot for a new weapon and was waiting to decide on something new...

Laser guided FFAR would be awesome!

Usable on ground attack aircraft as well as helos...

Any idea what designation they would use? AGM-?

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Yes the official DoD dez is to be:
AGM-Hellacool

AGM-158 for JASSM is the highest number I am aware of. The newer Small Diameter Bomb and MOAB fall under the unpowered GBU designations.

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Damn I hate using guesses when it comes to missile designations...

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They are now looking at integrating it onto the AV-8B, F-16 and A-10 as well as helo platforms.
APKWS: Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System
Oddly enough the Hydra rocket which is the basis of the weapon was canceled recently lol
The LASER seekers are actually mounted on the forward fins!


The accuracy here is pretty awesome, I think the square on the target is either 6 or 10 ft.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIMH7b6J28c

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That is friggin sweeet!!!!!! How effective is the HEAT warhead? Any idea how much armor it can penetrate?

** I like how they raised the helo's nose higher to get an arching trajectory!

I am definately incorporating this into FAF in the single open weapons slot I have left...

Kap - Thanks for the imagery and the excellent video, gives me all the 3D shape and skin info I need to build this!

Awesome little weapon! Really adds alot more punch to the platforms carrying it!

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Tremendously variable but from 2 to 7 inches of armor for each inch of warhead diameter. So a 2 inch warhead could penetrate from 4 to 14 inches of armor.

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I built them and they work great... Limited the burn rate so that you have to nose up to arc them enough to reach the target. Also limited the turn rate because the FFAR wasnt designed to turn at all, so I figured they wouldnt turn all that great even with the new nose winglets...

You can shoot individual rockets or ripple fire them...

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Bumping this just because it's too kewl to let fade away

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Ant that the truth!

Question though, do you think the laser version will become the most used version or will the unguided version remain the main choice?

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Well I'm sure the Zuni version will be all APKWS once it's up and running since the 5 incher will pack a heck of a punch and no real reason to area fire them.

For the Hydra 2.75 inch version I think it will depend somewhat on the target. We do STILL drop dumb bombs in some cases when we want an AREA devastated. But ya know, the Hydra had a warhead version ( among many ) that deployed multiple anti-tank mines per rocket. Wouldn't destroy a tank but would pop a tread requiring a fix. The APKWS would allow a very precise delivery of something like that on a bridge, street or back ally to produce a choke point.
I see it doing more for the platforms than as a new weapon per say. In other words a Kiowa class helo could now carry seven FFAR in one pod and seven APKWS in the other and deploy whatever was appropriate for each target. A Kiowa could go from four precision Hellfires to fourteen precision APKWS, THAT'S a pretty big upgrade!

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Another pic of the actual five inch Zuni:


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

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I've successfully modelled it in FAF

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This just in:



I also just learned that in addition to selecting a salvo rate ( how many rockets to fire from a pod at a time ) pilot can also select an "area" of the pod to fire. So he can select, for instance, four rockets from the middle of the pod, or five from the left side or whatever. I don't know how MUCH choice they have but I now know they can choose what section is selected to fire.

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Just found out the Raytheon 2.75 will be called "Talon" ( yeah like the T-38 super trainer, we don't do original names anymore, just re-purpose old ones ) haven't heard of an "AGM" dez yet.
And it has had a re-design, there are performance specs here CAG:
http://optronique.net/defense/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Raytheon_LGR_TALON_datasheet.pdf
http://www.defencetalk.com/talon-laser-guided-rocket-goes-3-for-3-in-flight-demonstration-38301/


I'll throw this in too.
First look at JAGM( Joint Air to Ground Missile ) which replaces the Joint Common Missile, which was to replace the Maverick and Hellfire.
The JAGM looks like a tiny Harpoon missile.
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Lockheed_Martin_Surpasses_8600_Hours_Of_Testing_On_Low_Risk_JAGM_Seeker_999.html

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Fighting for justice with brains of steel

Let your anger be like the monkey which hides inside the piniata.