Need to get ready for bed but, quickly I hope with ZASLON there would be at least 4 launchers with 2 rounds each so minimum 8 total rounds. Again the way they've written it as I last posted, the launchers threat axis runs from 150-180 degrees of coverage. The round when "detonated" then is supposed to provide 360 protective coverage of the platform
from in between the rocket or missile inbound and the platform. I can readily accept that a round fired from either the say the front left or rear left launcher would completely protect the platforms left side to include the deck and top turret. Or better using the same example, having "1/2 dome" covering the left side. I'm just not seeing a full 360 degree protective coverage over the platform.
I hope to get an answer from the source.
So how do you get around a treaty ban on cluster munitions? You develop weapons like
STRIX,
BONUS which the French are using with
all their artillery now and precision guided rounds such as
EXCALIBUR so in the case of the U.S. and a handful of others that didn't sign the CM ban treaty, "
you can have your cake and eat it too!".
So essentially these are very fast and effective top attack weapons if you think about it. This is the reason so much of the
"hunter killer" sensors are using ballistic glass, are mounted in "armored" housing or recessed "within" the turret itself to allow for some side and overhead protection.
Industry has/is addressing these issues already for instance the ARMATA is supposed to have an operating system to counter the above threat when fielded. It will lead to a stalemate (
Think about ATGW vs. these systems now, really no difference here. Some get through and some won't.) if you think of NLOS it's a multi-channel/multi-sensor munition just like BONUS. Even STRIX which is the "grandfather" of these systems out of the box was the same as NLOS etc. to lesser degree at the time.
In short yes artillery has gotten better than CM, a 155mm EXCALIBUR round is going to make for a bad day for a tank crew as it goes through a Commanders hatch.
Good hearing from you John and hope all is well.
Anyway back to work later this afternoon.
Regards,
Pat
