Forcas Terrestres takes you through the the manufacturing process for the VBTP-MR.
Nicely done and concise. I love the vehicle and remain impressed by how fast the Brazilians got it into service. All pics from Forcas Terrestres and you can read the article here.
http://freebeacon.com/obama-to-kill-tomahawk-hellfire-missile-programs/
ReplyDeleteYou think this is for real?
Its real but also somewhat expected. The actual funding cuts are part of the FY15 presidents budget and were made public as part of a slide set published by the USN/USMC on said budget. The general stockpile of TLAMs has been a bit higher than 2k, we currently have well over 3k in inventory and will be just a hair shy of 4k at the end of the current buy. To put it in perspective, we currently have basically 5x the number that have ever been used in a war.
DeleteIn addition, the Navy is planning to start production on LRASM in 2017 which are also capable of many of the same strike missions we currently used TLAMs for. And once VL-LRASM goes live, its basically a software change to make VL-JASSM work. VL-JASSM-ER would have a range of 500+ NM and can carry the same warhead options as TLAM. Depending on final LRASM config range, a joint AShM/LACM capability is very viable. LRASM range will be at least 300nm, fyi. And is 100% based on a slightly modified JASSM-ER frame (basically VL mods and uses the VL-ASROC booster).
By reserving TLAM only for those threats that require TLAM's 1000 nm range, and using LRASM/JASSM/JASSM-ER the navy will gain larger economies of scale and be able to share stock piles between ships and aircraft which has some fairly large advantages. In addition, TLAM is actually on borrowed time currently with replacement programs currently underway.
For Hellfire, we've been abusing the heck out of the hellfires and using them on targets where their effects aren't really required. The plan going forward is to suplement the Hellfire stockpile with APKWS Hydra rockets which are sufficient for the majority of targets we're using hellfires on today. This will greatly extend the current Hellfire inventory which like the TLAM inventory has actually grown substantially since 2001. In addition, Hellfire is also on borrowed time with a replacement program currently underway.
TL;DR We've greatly grown our stockpiles of both Hellfires and TLAMs since 2001 to record highs (both over 50% of historical levels) and we are both bringing on programs that will supplement the uses of these missiles (LRASM/VL-JASSM and APKWS) and have active next generation replacement programs in process for these weapons for their intended uses. It makes little sense to increase the stockpiles beyond there current level given their use scenarios in combat are being reduced by new capabilities and replacements are currently being worked on.
Underneath looks a bit flat to me, thought it would have a V-hull unless they've got an extra bolt-on hull.
ReplyDeleteIt may look to be a hefty vehicle but I wouldn't want to be in it when an IED blast hits that flat bottom and knocks my tailbone into my cheekbone. Not that anyone would haha.
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ReplyDeleteSol, check out some pictures of the first operational unit of Brazilian Army using the VBTR. The unit is the "33th Mechanized Infantry Battalion", located in Cascavel, nearby the triplice frontier - Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.755300161176732.1073741931.185176661522421&type=1
Solomon, any opinion on this thing versus a new version of the French VAB?
ReplyDeleteI seems to fill the exact same niche.