Marines test laser-guided 2.75-inch rocketsBy Kris Osborn - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Sep 20, 2007 5:35:46 EDT
Fired from a Marine Corps Cobra helicopter, laser-guided 2.75-inch rockets destroyed ground targets from four kilometers away during a Navy test at China Lake, Calif., on Wednesday.
The test-firings of the 10-pound rockets were the first airborne shots of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, an Army-Navy program in development by BAE under a $96 million deal from 2006. The rockets homed in on both ground and air-based laser designators, Navy officials said.
Navy officials are asking Congress to find money to field
the $10,000 rockets earlier than planned.
“I believe it could be fielded as soon as late 2009 if the money is there. The impact is immense.
This offers precision guidance with low collateral damage. That is exactly what the warfighter needs,” said Michelle McBride, who leads the project for the Navy.
McBride said the Army and Navy would likely include the rockets in their 2009 budget requests.
Hitting smaller targets from the air will save lives and money, said Frank Wilson, vice president and general manager of precision targeting at BAE Systems.
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http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/09/defense_laserguidedrockets_070919/uhc comment: I'll bet my next paycheck these fuckers are intended for a UAV of some kind. Cpl. Lunchpack in NM will be able to kill with precision.