Cheap portable high-precision pocket infantry US infantry
The US Army is conducting tests of the Griffin B missiles, which are to replace the more expensive Javelin ATGMs. In Afghanistan, troops located at remote outposts often use Javelin as their artillery when they are out of range of US 155-mm guns and far from air bases, and therefore the arrival of bombers and combat helicopters will take some time. Javelin does an excellent job with this job, but it’s not cheap ($ 75,000 for a rocket). Griffin is smaller, simpler and does not contain expensive armor-piercing warheads, therefore it is a cheaper alternative to Javelin.
Griffin B is a heavier air-to-ground missile. Griffin A. Griffin B weighs 20.5 kg and has a warhead in 5.9 kg. Thanks to its relatively large opening flaps, the missile’s range is 5600 meters. Griffin uses laser beam guidance, a GPS receiver and an inertial guidance system. Griffin B was tested on six launchers, capable of turning in the direction of the target and quickly firing missiles in the direction of nearby threats.
Javelin, introduced in 2002, weighs 22.3 kg (with a disposable tube and battery / cooling block of the sighting device), starts with an installation weighing 6.4 kg. The launcher contains a 4-x multiple day sight and 9-and multiple thermal imager for shooting at night. The rocket is equipped with a tandem warhead to overcome reactive armor and can hit the target directly or from above. The latter feature allows the 8.2 kg Javelin warhead to destroy any existing tank, including the American M1. The maximum range is 2500 meters. The most advanced homing system allows you to use the "shot and forget" mode. That is, as soon as the operator notices the target at the crosshair of the sighting device and launches the rocket, the computer and the homing head of the missile warhead memorize the target and automatically hold the rocket on it. Infantrymen like these missiles very much, as they can hide after the launch of the rocket.
The troops already have many other thermal imagers with which you can find targets for the Griffin, which are small guided missiles. Griffin will become the favorite infantry infantry artillery. Army field trials will determine how effective Griffin B is in combat. Meanwhile, the troops have well-proven Javelin.
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