XM701 GLAADS

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Gun Low-Altitude Air Defense System (GLAADS)

image

Photo: XM701 GLAADS Vehicle in profile.

Introduction:
The GLAADS program was a test program incorporating the latest technologies of the early 1970s for an Air Defense Gun. The Objective was to create a follow on to the M163 with increased range and lethality but still being a “passive” system relying on FLIR instead of radar. A key to the system was also testing new computation models for tracking aircraft that would be able to better avoid sensor noise, which would increase hit probability over earlier linear projection models.

Initiated in 1972 the GLAADS program was an offshoot on to the LOFAADS (Low Altitude Forward Area Air Defense System) program of the late 60ties and early 70ties. The weapon was to have an effective range of 3km, the max caliber was to be 30mm its time of flight to 3km was to be between 2.2-3 seconds for AP and the reaction time was to be between 5-7 seconds. The idea being to use AP against long range threats and HE against close ones.

General Dynamics, General Electric and Philco-Ford competed to build the GLAADS test vehicle with Philco-Ford, the producer of the Vulcan winning out. The turret was mounted on to the, left over, second pilot of the MICV-65 program a steel version of the XM701 vehicle in 1975 for tests. The fire control system Ford devised for GLAADS became the basis for the M247 SGT York’s FCS.

Technical details:

The GLAADS Turret


Photo: Late version of GLAADS turret.

FCS:
Optics:

  • FLIR
  • Laser range finder
  • WFOV: 20x40 deg
  • NFOV: 2x4 deg

IRST:

  • 20x40deg
  • 30 scans/sec
  • follows LOS
  • Tracking range 10000m

Tracking:

  • Stabilized

Specifications:

  • Azimuth: 1600 mils/sec (90 deg/sec)
  • Elevation: 750 mils/sec (42 deg/sec)

Limits:

  • Azimuth: 360 deg
  • Elevation: -5 to 85 deg

Sources/Discussion:

Spoiler

The GLAADS’s FCS was the materialization of the AFAADS(Advanced Forward Area Air Defense System) fire control computer concept: A FLIR scanning system with an continual laser range finder for tracking and an automated closed-loop fire control, designed to enable a dual-gun system in the 20-40mm caliber range to hit targets flying 300+ m/sec with a reaction time in the 5-7 seconds.





DTIC AD0919431: Parametric Study of Advanced Forward Area Air Defense Weapon System (AFAADS). Volume II Data Processing Requirements Analysis. Supplement : Defense Technical Information Center : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Weapons:

2x Philco-Ford Bushmaster 25mm (PFB-25)


Photo: Side shot of PFB-25

The PFB-25 is a descendant of the TRW-6425 designed by Eugene Stoner, like the Oerlikon KBA already in game. The weapon is dual feed, enabling the fire of AP against long range targets.

Rate of fire:

  • 550 Rounds per minute per gun for a total of 1100

Recoil force:

  • 7700x2 pounds

Accuracy for AP:

  • 0.59 mil

Accuracy for HE:

  • 0.97 mil

Length:

  • 111"

Sources:

Spoiler


The Machine Gun V5 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Hull:

The XM701 (12FP16) Hull


Photo: GLAADS vehicle with early version of turret fitted with PAMS(Pointing Angle Measuring System) device.

Weight:

  • 24.5 Metric tons

Hull height:

  • 82"

Max speed:

  • 64.4 Km/H

Engine:

  • General Motors 8V71T
  • 425 Gross Horsepower
  • 345 Net Horsepower

Transmission:

  • Allison XTG-411-2A

Armor:

  • Hull rolled homogeneous steel armor Welded assembly
  • 38-16mm

Source:

Spoiler


Bradley, A History of American Fighting and Support Vehicles by R. P. Hunnicutt

Images:



General GLAADS Sources:

Spoiler

Jane’s Weapon Systems: 1978-79 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

DTIC ADA007127: Proceedings of the Annual U.S. Army Operations Research Symposium (13th) , AORS XIII, Held at Fort Lee, Virginia on 29 October - 1 November 1974, Co- Hosted by Army Logistics Center, Fort Lee, Virginia and Army Quartermaster Center and Fort Lee, Virginia. Volume 2 : Defense Technical Information Center : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Jane’s world armoured fighting vehicles : Foss, Christopher F : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Fiscal year 1977 authorization for military procurement, research and devel… - Google Books

Fiscal Year 1976 and July-September 1976 Transition Period Authorization for Military Procurement, Research and Development, and Active Duty, Selected Reserve, and Civilian Personnel Strengths (googleusercontent.com)

Army Research and Development - Google Books

Fiscal Year 1974 Authorization for Military Procurement ,research and Devel… - Google Books

U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center

XM701 info/images:

Spoiler

image
Early design dimensions, primary change was the front of the vehicle.

SNAFU!: Blast from the past. Infantry Combat Vehicle XM701 (snafu-solomon.com)

The Book: Bradley, A History of American Fighting and Support Vehicles by R. P. Hunnicutt has good images of the XM701.

14 Likes

Was waiting to see if anyone would suggest this. Easy +1 for another example of an interesting U.S. SPAA, it certainly won’t be the last.

1 Like

+1, adding more stuff here in case you don’t have them since I don’t wanna check all your linked sources lol

Spoiler


1 Like

This is really cool! I’d never heard of this vehicle or this program before, but I’d love to have this added to the US anti-air line. This could fill one of the many gaps in that part of the tree very nicely. +1

1 Like

+1 though since it has tracking capabilities, it might not be able to bridge the Great US SPAA Gap™ all that much if at all. Would still be nice to have as an alternative to the M163 though.

3 Likes

It has IRST, so it would be similar to the SIDAM 25.

I’m stealing this :D

1 Like

Yes! I want US ZSU-23!!

1 Like

Well, well, when some Soviets want some funny projects, all start vain “ain’t used”, “no proofs”.

But when same story for one of numerous “declined” projects of US - all cheering.

Well, still +1 - U.S. ZU-23-2 sounds really good.

Yes please

The GLAADS project wasn’t a failure, though.

More US SPAAs are always welcome, have my +1.

Easy +1, and damn you for beating me to it!
Excellent work and thanks for getting the ball rolling on this one.

1 Like

As sergeant York, ADATS, and numerous projects at all.
Its like a story, how, during WW2, Grumman make almost all carrier aircraft, so when he propose some beautiful plane, with reasonable price (Bearcat, if i remember that correctly, but i can be wrong), it been denied, for reasons of the Antimonopoly Committee.

So in the end, Navy been stuck with worse, and more costly plane.

1 Like

The purpose of GLAADS was to develop a capable fire control system that could react quickly and accurately to incoming aircraft, which they succeeded at making. The failure of the M247 is entirely down to Ford’s poor choices, and the ADATS came at a bad time when the cold war had just ended, thus it was deemed unnecessary.

The Bearcat was adopted and saw service in very late WW2 and Korea. I’m not sure which aircraft you’re talking about there.

1 Like

In first minute, dictor literally said about the situation.
Later through video, must be a name of plane i mean.

P.s. Yep, i been wrong.
They send of anti monopoly committee, when Navy want take F-11F Tiger, even without tender.

That’s not entirely true, however. Plenty of other manufacturers had aircraft in USN service well before the anti-monopoly laws came into place.

Gaijin’s video on Grumman itself isn’t entirely accurate either. The Panther saw the most service in Korea because most of the Banshees were all the way over in Europe for atlantic and mediterranean squadrons, thanks to the F2H’s exceptional performance at high altitude and range. it was regarded by the USN as a better fighter than the F9F Panther.

Thank you and sorry about that, my ulterior motive was to give Sgt York its real-life capabilities (issues reports) which I think might move it up from 9.0 so the obvious and cool looking stop-gap choice would be GLAADS at 8.3-8.7 where I think it will be the US equivalent of 2S38, even if slightly weaker. ~500 rounds of 25mm APDS at 1100 RPM is going to be fun, fingers crossed.