- Yes
- No
One bird, One stone… at Mach 3
Around 1990, the German defence firm Diehl BGT, noticing the apparent lack of self defence for tanks against airborne weapon systems (primarily helicopters), set to work on a gun-fired anti air projectile. While this could not be classified as a missile as it was unpropelled, it is a projectile fired using the Rheinmetall 120mm L/44 and L/55 smoothbore cannons.
Being a discarding-sabot gun-launched self-guided projectile, it requires either lock on before launch or LOAL (lock-on-after-launch). It is equipped with an IR seeker utilising quadrant sensors coupled with an air-bearing, air-driven free gyro thereby giving it impeccable DIRCM resistance.
The German government even saw promise in the munition and decided to fund official testing for two years starting from 1996. Going so far as successful demonstrations in Bundeswehr field trials. However, due to military doctrine, the concept of tanks engaging helicopters with a designated projectile was dropped even though it was a successful project.
Testing
Diehl BGT has done several test firings of the projectile from L/44 guns against 2x2 and 0.5x0.5 m^2 targets, successfully engaging them at ranges of 4 to 6 kilometres using the warhead of small kinetic and high explosive sub-munitions housed inside the aft section of the projectile.
Projectile guidance is done through an IR seeker which gives commands to the onboard computer which in turn, guides the four deployable aerodynamic cruciform wings.
Something interesting about the EPHAG as compared to other guided munitions is the control method. Instead of using the fins as rotatable control surfaces, the fins slide across the middle length of the projectile in pairs, there by altering its centre of gravity and flight characteristics and guiding the missile into the target. The wing actuator system uses two cobalt-samarium electromotors, one for each wing pair, to slide the wings and guide the projectile.
EPHAG also has an extendable metal spike at the head to reduce aerodynamic drag by deflection and breaking of stagnant air in the flight path.
Technical Specifications
Round weight: unknown (around 20 to 28kg)
Projectile weight: unknown (around 10 to 20kg)
Projectile acceleration: 35,000 G’s
Maximum speed: 3705km/h (Mach 3)
Maximum overload: unknown (around 20G)(on top of the acceleration G’s)
Warhead mass: unknown (around)
Maximum range: 6km
Maximum flight time: 5.5 to 6 seconds (not limited)
EPHAG in game
Because it was trialled on the L/44 in Germany, these German vehicles should receive this projectile:
Vehicles that do not match the operator country (Leo 2PL) should be able to utilise this shell but since this project was born and died in Germany without export, such vehicles cannot use it. Vehicles made and retired before this shells development should also not receive this shell.
Pictures
