Comments on: Anti-RPG technology detonates grenade electronically. http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/07/anti-rpg-technology-detonates-grenade-electronically/ Firearms not Politics Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:09:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Nomen Nescio http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/07/anti-rpg-technology-detonates-grenade-electronically/#comment-3972 Nomen Nescio Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:48:15 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3593#comment-3972 shaped charges are sensitive to the distance between the point they go off, and their actual target at the time. if they're set off prematurely, the explosive jet dissipates enough to lose most of its power before hitting the real target. that's the point of currently used add-on "slat" armor, as well as this. APCs often get thin sheet metal plates bolted on to their sides, set off several inches from the real armor; that's enough to turn an APC-killer rocket into an APC-denter-and-scratcher. the basic idea apparently goes all the way back to WW2. what advantage this Greek system might have over "slat" armor that's currently in use, i'm not quite sure. maybe it's lighter? i can't imagine it would be any cheaper. shaped charges are sensitive to the distance between the point they go off, and their actual target at the time. if they’re set off prematurely, the explosive jet dissipates enough to lose most of its power before hitting the real target. that’s the point of currently used add-on “slat” armor, as well as this. APCs often get thin sheet metal plates bolted on to their sides, set off several inches from the real armor; that’s enough to turn an APC-killer rocket into an APC-denter-and-scratcher. the basic idea apparently goes all the way back to WW2.

what advantage this Greek system might have over “slat” armor that’s currently in use, i’m not quite sure. maybe it’s lighter? i can’t imagine it would be any cheaper.

]]> By: existingthing http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/07/anti-rpg-technology-detonates-grenade-electronically/#comment-3951 existingthing Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:25:39 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3593#comment-3951 Seems odd to me too... tripping the piezoelectric sensor would only cause a premature detonation, but so would the extended armor plating. But that would only mimic the results of the steel mesh style armor extension already in use. The only advantage it could have would be to disrupt and activate the grenade before it hits a hard target, by extended the disruptive current using something lighter than the current steel mesh armor. But that's not the case because the explosion-reducing metal armor is hard... :? Seems odd to me too… tripping the piezoelectric sensor would only cause a premature detonation, but so would the extended armor plating. But that would only mimic the results of the steel mesh style armor extension already in use. The only advantage it could have would be to disrupt and activate the grenade before it hits a hard target, by extended the disruptive current using something lighter than the current steel mesh armor. But that’s not the case because the explosion-reducing metal armor is hard…

:?

]]> By: Steve http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/07/anti-rpg-technology-detonates-grenade-electronically/#comment-3930 Steve Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:58:00 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3593#comment-3930 Sean, good point about it being dirty. Sean, good point about it being dirty.

]]> By: Sean Nack http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/07/anti-rpg-technology-detonates-grenade-electronically/#comment-3926 Sean Nack Sun, 07 Dec 2008 17:04:32 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3593#comment-3926 i'm dubious. there're some fancy things that work well, and there're some that just cause more problems. this seems like it adds more weight to a HMMWV, which might be fine in iraq but it's the last thing they need in afghanistan; u-joints snap on a regular basis already. my questions would be how much does it weigh, how much does it cost, and does it work when it's dirty? i’m dubious. there’re some fancy things that work well, and there’re some that just cause more problems. this seems like it adds more weight to a HMMWV, which might be fine in iraq but it’s the last thing they need in afghanistan; u-joints snap on a regular basis already. my questions would be how much does it weigh, how much does it cost, and does it work when it’s dirty?

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