Looks more like neutron radiation shielding cladding than armour
75mm @ 60° front
SAMP/T GBADS, Franco-Italian Finesse
- A ground based air defense system designed by both Italy and France. The system similarly to the upcoming IRIS-T SLM system utilizes 3x vehicles, the RADAR Identification Module, the Land Launch Module, and the Engagement Module. The RADAR module feeds the fire control data to the Engagement Module which intern processes then sends the targeting data to the Land Launch Module whom proceeds to engage the threat. The system utilizes the Aster-family of missiles, which can engage missiles, drones, aircraft, and more.
- The system is being updated to engage hypersonic threats as well.
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They need to slap that ASTER 30 on Rafales and Eurofighters aim-174 style!
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FIM-92 Stingers are having there booster replaced with a ramjet under the program Red Wasp:
Testing of the ramjet propulsion system.
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Low altitude ramjet seems pretty interesting especially on something so small
Yeah it’s pretty wild. It’s going to offer it increased range and speed while retaining the FIM-92K’s seeker (at least for now).
Next step is 9X type IIR seeker, and the IM-SHORAD might actually be top tier worthy
I hope they mass produce these so I can maybe hold one at some point
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I think it’s just a filler-upgrade until the replacement of the Stinger under the Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor (NGSRI) is accepted, granted we all know how the Army’s acquisition programs go 👀 * coughs in Booker and every Abrams/Bradley replacement so far *
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Yeah, it’s been pretty rough. the growing interest in military and development of US adversaries should help programs with real promise. Imo cancelling booker was a good move since it seemed like it sort of just sucked
Army might just be allergic to successful programs though
The MPF program was a good concept but they either should’ve upgraded the M1128 MGS to be more stable when firing which was a major issue or selected the XM1302 (modernized M8) since it actually met all the requirements and weight set by the program. The Griffin II drew a lot of interest since it utilized the same setup as the Abrams but failed the other aspects of the program which were then tailored to fit the Griffin II so it stayed in the program.
The M10 would’ve also likely been upgraded with Iron Fist APS later on to make it more survivable.
The airborne need a light tank but messed up by trying to reinvent the wheel when they had other options they could’ve went with.
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Aster 30 is Mach 4.5 with no initial speed
if you strap it on a Rafale, the poor thing might be too fast for its own good X)
that’s nice
on something this small it’s indeed quite interesting. Would be funny to transform a small manpads that doesn’t look like much in a 10+ km range threat
now watch it still turn 13G because “it looks like igla”
Yea cuz 10.3 is rly lacking
The funny thing is that in terms of dimensions and mass, the missile could be installed (it would be a bit too long to put it under a Rafale but it should be possible) Well, the first booster would be complicated to put under the wing, but it should be possible.
I’m pretty sure the meteor would have more range than the ASTER tho. The range advantage of the ramjet over a larger rocket booster is just much better. Just need to see the size of the AIM260.
Also, thinking about this, I believe PL15 stated range is also in the ballpark of the Meteor. I think it uses a solid rocket motor as well, so I guess to achieve that range it should be bigger ?
Yes, you have a range advantage with the METEOR, but for acceleration, the ASTER 30 would be absolutely monstrous; some sources claim that maximum speed is reached in a few seconds.
And the final guidance system and the explosive charge would really make it a very interesting missile (I say that jokingly; I can’t imagine it being installed on the Rafale at all).
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family reunion
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