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| Europe |
| German firm marketing smart-bomb defense system |
| 2003-08-11 |
| Edited for brevity. You don’t have to be one of the retired generals on cable TV to see how important precision-guided, "smart" bombs have been to the U.S. military’s recent successes. Laser- and satellite-directed munitions have allowed U.S. forces to target individual buildings in Baghdad or Kabul, without harming the surrounding neighborhood. But a German firm says it has developed effective countermeasures to at least some smart bombs. And it’s about to sell these defenses on the open market, reports Jane’s International Defence Review. The system, developed by Buck Neue Technologien, uses a series of 32 decoy rounds, all fired within seconds, to distract laser-guided munitions from their intended target. The 81 mm decoys are filled with chaff, to stop radar-seekers, and red phosphor, to create a cloud that blocks infrared light. Buck Neue Technologien has already built a version of their bomb defenses for navies. It’s called Multi-Ammunition Softkill System, or MASS. [CEO] Papperger tells Jane’s that his company has been "approached by ’certain very wealthy people in Asia’ who would have an interest in the capability offered by MASS to protect their homes against missile attack." Vielen Dank, Herr Papperger. Hope it’s as effective as those Soviet GPS jammers Saddam tried. |
| Posted by:Dar |
| #11 C'mon *com, be good sport. Either the stuff doesn't work, then the Arabs spend money on BS (are you crying?). Or it works... then the German company will probably sell the idea to the U.S. and America will improve her system. We all win: competition was always good for the market. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-8-12 7:43:54 AM |
| #10 You could put an end to this by firing 6 or 7 TLAMs, at about 10 second intervals, into the Buck Neue Technologien facilities. That would put a dent in both sales and confidence in the product. Then we could send a note of apology to Shroeder & Co. Oops, their product must've deflected the GPS coords we programmed - s'posed to have hit targets in Afghanistan. Sorry. Our bad. |
| Posted by: ·com 2003-8-11 10:32:07 PM |
| #9 Good, let them throw up clusters of chaff. We'll return the favor dropping cluster munitions. Who do you think will win? Oh, and it won't be a softkill system either. Frank G > Good point. "Sorry the Germans helped to cause massive civilian casualties. Then again, they have a proud history of it." Maybe if they created a giant umbrella you could open that reads. "Enemy HQ moved 10 clicks that way (with 360 degree free rotating arrow) about an hour ago. It could work.... |
| Posted by: Paul 2003-8-11 8:22:40 PM |
| #8 Multi-Ammunition Softkill System? Why do I get this image of the giant StayPuff Marshmellow Man from Ghost Busters? |
| Posted by: Don 2003-8-11 4:55:39 PM |
| #7 Sounds like a problem for new weapons development. Design something like a HARM to take out the defense and then you are home free |
| Posted by: Chemist 2003-8-11 3:56:33 PM |
| #6 All this means is that a structure protected by this system will be attacked twice; once to take out the decoy system, then to destroy the building. Big deal. |
| Posted by: Raphael 2003-8-11 2:54:04 PM |
| #5 You nailed it Dar. The thinking will be "The Russian GPS jammers didn't work, but the Germans built this - I'm sure its a good investment". A fool and his money are soon parted. |
| Posted by: Dakotah 2003-8-11 2:53:02 PM |
| #4 I've got a lot of questions about this system: Really, I'm thinking this is just another means of grabbing money from two-bit, paranoid dictators with a system that will work once when demonstrated under ideal conditions. |
| Posted by: Dar 2003-8-11 1:40:12 PM |
| #3 They wont be very effective against a carpet bombing campaign either. Or a multi-MOAB grid attack. Wonder if the Saudis are checking this stuff out. Bet they helped fund the development. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2003-8-11 12:49:16 PM |
| #2 It sounds like this is designed to be effective only against laser-guided bombs. I believe most of our newer precision guided bombs (JDAMS) use the global positioning system for guidance. If we care enough to kill them, why not send them our best? They'll probably be wasting their money on this, not that I care. |
| Posted by: Dakotah 2003-8-11 12:16:46 PM |
| #1 so, by misdirecting guided munitions, they can take responsibility for the additional civilian deaths/ collateral damages? where are the UN/AI/HRC? Shouldn't they be protesting this? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-8-11 10:43:10 AM |