Koska meillä on jonkin verran TOW2 A/B -pst ohjuksia varastossa laukaisulaitteineen ja rahaa tunnetusti vähän niin olisiko vastaus TOW-järjestelmän pitämiseksi taistelukelpoisena TOW ITAS tai TOW EAGLE FIRE?
TOW Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS)
The TOW ITAS mission is to defeat enemy armored vehicles
The TOW Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS) is a material change to the current target acquisition and fire control subsystem used by first-to-fight, light infantry forces. ITAS increases target detection, acquisition, recognition and engagement ranges; fires all versions of the TOW missile from both the M41 ground launcher (dismount mode) and the M1121 high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV) platform; and provides a growth path for future missiles.
The ITAS includes a second-generation FLIR that uses Standard Advanced Dewar Assembly (SADA II) technology, an eyesafe laser rangefinder, and other digital components to address user-identified operational deficiencies. These improvements increase detection and identification ranges by a factor of 2X, increasing the probability of hit over the existing TOW 2.
The TOW ITAS provides a highly mobile, adverse weather, day or night capability needed by early entry forces to destroy advanced threat armor at greater standoff ranges in the main battle area.
The ITAS features an automatic boresighting capability, aided target tracking, embedded training, BIT/BITE, and traversing unit modifications. These features ensure crew survivability through increased standoff range and improved performance in the battlefield environment.
http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/itas/
Raytheonilta löytyy myös langaton TOW 2B RF -versio jota voidaan ampua kaikista TOW-laukaisimista ilman muutoksia:
http://raytheon.mediaroom.com/2015-03-30-TOW-2A-RF-missiles-successfully-fired-from-helicopter
Tässä ja TOW 2B AEROssa kantama on 4,5 km.
Edullisempi vaihtoehto tähtäinpäivitykseen olisi TOW EAGLE FIRE:
http://raytheon.mediaroom.com/2015-10-29-Raytheon-unveils-next-gen-TOW-EagleFire-launcher
Raytheon unveils new TOW EagleFire launcher
Key Points
- Developed specifically for international TOW customers
- Leverages some elements of the TOW ITAS development
Raytheon Missile Systems has developed a new launcher for the BGM-71-series tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided/wireless radio frequency (TOW) anti-armour/anti-structure missile.
In development for three years and unveiled at the TOW International Data Exchange (TIDE) in Orlando, Florida, in early October 2015, the TOW EagleFire launcher is a Raytheon internal research and development-funded initiative intended as an affordable capability increment for international users of the older BGM-71D/E TOW 2/2A system.
"Those systems have been out there for some 20-25 years and they are older technology; they are getting harder to maintain; the customers continue to want to use TOW, but the launchers are causing some issues," Ed Dunlap, Business Development Lead for TOW Weapon Systems at Raytheon told
IHS Jane's .
Dunlap said that EagleFire is designed to bridge the capability gap between the older TOW 2 (which typically comprises an M220B launcher with an AN/TAS-4 infrared weapon sight) and Raytheon's higher-spec M41 TOW Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS) launcher, which he said "is significantly more expensive than the TOW 2 system and might not be affordable for international customers".
Currently in service with US forces, ITAS includes an integrated second-generation forward-looking infrared sensor that uses Standard Advanced Dewar Assembly (SADA II) technology, an eyesafe laser rangefinder (10 km range, ± 5 m accuracy), a position attitude determination subsystem, a fire-control subsystem, a lithium-ion battery power source, a modified traversing unit, and other digital components to address user-identified operational deficiencies. The ITAS enhancement delivers augmented target detection, acquisition, recognition, and engagement ranges, improved hit probability with aided target tracking, improved missile flight software algorithms, and an elevation brake to minimise launch transients.
The new TOW EagleFire launcher is lighter and more compact than the legacy M220-based TOW 2 system, and rationalises the total number of line replaceable units (LRUs) from 18 (in the M220 launcher and its ancillary equipment) down to five (total TOW EagleFire Launcher equipment).
http://www.janes.com/article/55755/raytheon-unveils-new-tow-eaglefire-launcher
Tämä oli uusi tieto minulle:
The missile is fitted with a high-intensity thermal beacon, which provides a long-wave infrared tracking source and a xenon beacon for short-wave tracking. This dual-tracking system provides increased resistance to electro-optical and infrared countermeasures. http://www.army-technology.com/projects/tow/
