Post by vgp on Mar 22, 2008 10:11:49 GMT 12
Bang $100,000 goes up in smoke
The Dominion Post | Saturday, 22 March 2008
It took just four seconds for the army to get shot of $100,000.
The first live firing of a Javelin anti-armour missile, used against tanks, bunkers and buildings, was conducted at Waiouru this week.
A reinforced concrete bunker 960 metres away was destroyed seconds after the trigger was pulled by Corporal Joseph van Arendonk of Burnham's 2/1 Royal NZ Infantry Regiment.
And it was a good thing the shot hit its target - with each round costing about US$85,000, (NZ$106,000) it will be a year before the next live firing.
In 2006 the army began training to fire anti-tank missiles on a computer-simulated programme, using 40 battle scenarios. There is no better training than the real thing, however, and the exercise gave infantry soldiers a feel for the weapon.
An army spokesman said the missile system had to be tested sporadically to ensure it was operational.
It comprises two parts: a launch unit - which uses a thermal imaging observation system to detect, identify and lock on to the target - and the missile.
The missiles are used by British, American and Australian forces in urban battles in Iraq and Afghanistan and have a range of 2500 metres
www.stuff.co.nz/4447781a10.html
The Dominion Post | Saturday, 22 March 2008
It took just four seconds for the army to get shot of $100,000.
The first live firing of a Javelin anti-armour missile, used against tanks, bunkers and buildings, was conducted at Waiouru this week.
A reinforced concrete bunker 960 metres away was destroyed seconds after the trigger was pulled by Corporal Joseph van Arendonk of Burnham's 2/1 Royal NZ Infantry Regiment.
And it was a good thing the shot hit its target - with each round costing about US$85,000, (NZ$106,000) it will be a year before the next live firing.
In 2006 the army began training to fire anti-tank missiles on a computer-simulated programme, using 40 battle scenarios. There is no better training than the real thing, however, and the exercise gave infantry soldiers a feel for the weapon.
An army spokesman said the missile system had to be tested sporadically to ensure it was operational.
It comprises two parts: a launch unit - which uses a thermal imaging observation system to detect, identify and lock on to the target - and the missile.
The missiles are used by British, American and Australian forces in urban battles in Iraq and Afghanistan and have a range of 2500 metres
www.stuff.co.nz/4447781a10.html
