MLRS going to all guided rockets


This is interesting. IMO, the day is not too far off when most
munitions larger than a couple of inches / 50 mm in diameter will be
guided in one way or the other, or several ways at once.

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http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htart/articles/20060116.aspx

No More Unguided MLRS Rockets
January 16, 2006:

The U.S. is no longer buying unguided rockets for its 227mm MLRS
multiple rocket system.

All future purchases will be guided rockets. The primary guided rocket
is the M30, carrying a 200 pound high explosive warhead, and using GPS
for navigation. That means that at maximum range (over 60 kilometers),
each rocket will still land within 10-20 feet of the aiming point. This
gives MLRS the same accuracy as JDAM bombs. With the 60 kilometer
range, one MLRS vehicle (carrying twelve rockets) or a HIMARS truck
(carrying six rockets) can provide smart bomb accuracy for any troops
within range. The smaller (200 pound) warhead is often preferred,
particularly for urban fighting (where adjacent buildings may contain
civilians.)

The bomblet version of the M30 warhead (carrying 404 bomblets), will no
longer be used, mainly because the dud rate on the bomblets could not
be pushed below one percent. That meant that each bomblet rocket would
leave at least four live bomblets (the others having self destructed
after a given period of time) left lying around, that tend to kill and
maim civilians and friendly troops. In any event, the 200 pound high
explosive warhead did the kind of damage the troops were most often
looking for.

The new rockets have a shelf life of 15 years. Some unguided training
rockets will still be bought, but these have no warhead and a much
shorter range. They are used just so the troops can practice a live
launch of rockets.

.