At IDEX 2011 the Italians had a LAV (Light Armored Vehicle) that could launch a UAV (Unmanned Ariel Vehicle) from its main gun. Pretty nifty. I am not sure what model the LAV is.
It was only a matter of time that someone improve on the Russian concept of cannon-launched guided-missiles and make a full-fledge UAV out of them.
It also goes to show us that there’s more advantages for large-bore cannons other than putting holes into things.
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0Lance: I imagine they only use a tiny charge or some kind of compressed air launch for the uav. They just use the barrel as a convenient way to release the uav without exposing themselves to enemy fire.
Any kind of heavier charge would, as you say, obliterate the uav no matter what they made it out of especially with the wings opening backwards like that.
0 0Lance, it isn’t stated anywhere that the UAV is fired out of the gun with the same propellant charge that fires an APFSDS round over five times the speed of sound. It could have a small booster charge or rocket to let it leave the gun tube at enough velocity to get it airborne.
0 0So it essentially means my main gun will be clogged until the UAV is launched. Any enemy tank that catches me will destroy me without me having a chance to take him out first. I don’t know, that’s not what I’d do with a tank destroyer.
The UAV doesn’t look big. I guess a makeshift ramp, that can be set up quickly would be a better idea than bogging down one of the main guns in a tank platoon.
0 0@ Lance i think that they kept that in mind when they designed and built the UAV to make sure that wouldnt happen……
0 0Looks like an Italian Centauro.
0 0As to the LAV, this is new version of Iveco – Oto Melara Centauro tank destroyer with 120 main gun.
0 0That is a Centauro wheeled tank destroyer. It has a 120/45 cannon, and is built by Iveco and Oto Melara.
0 0The vehicle shown is an Italian B1 Centauro self-propelled gun serving a Reco and Anti-tank role.
See piccie here…………
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Centauro01.JPEG
The USA had a number for Trials that led to the LAV version now in US A rmy service. They should have stuck with the Italian one!
This version has a 105mm cannon but there is another version that has a 120mm cannon. There is also an IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) version that carries a 25mm cannon in a HITFIST turret also shared with a tracked IFV the Italians have……….3-man crew + 8 troops whilst the original Recon vehicle has a crew of four Commander, gunner, loader and driver.
Regards,
BUG
0 0Apparently not a new concept, it seems to be the same system mentioned here from 2008: http://defense-update.com/events/2008/summary/eurosatory08_ugvs.htm
“The Italian company OtoMelara introduced at Eurosatory 2008 a line of new robotic platforms developed by the newly acquired Celin Avio division. One of the smallest and most innovative systems is the Oto-Horus, a 120mm diameter, 1.3 kg gross T/O weight tube-launched mini-UAV designed for launching from 120mm tank guns. Horus is built from composite materials, and uses foldable canard and forward-swept main wings, optimizing stability, maneuverability and platform dimension. Horus is fitted with an electro-optical payload and can fly a mission for 30 minutes at maximum speed of about 100 km/h. “
0 0Mountainbear said
“So it essentially means my main gun will be clogged until the UAV is launched. Any enemy tank that catches me will destroy me without me having a chance to take him out first. I don’t know, that’s not what I’d do with a tank destroyer.
The UAV doesn’t look big. I guess a makeshift ramp, that can be set up quickly would be a better idea than bogging down one of the main guns in a tank platoon.”
I agree . A 155mm launched UAV or a specific uav launcher platform , would make more sense . But maybe there are small fast reaction forces , that need that ability from existing platforms .
0 0The muzzle blast and recoil would really damage any high tech UAV I dont see this as a advancement in UAV tech.
0 1
Mountainbear said
“So it essentially means my main gun will be clogged until the UAV is launched. Any enemy tank that catches me will destroy me without me having a chance to take him out first. I don’t know, that’s not what I’d do with a tank destroyer.
The UAV doesn’t look big. I guess a makeshift ramp, that can be set up quickly would be a better idea than bogging down one of the main guns in a tank platoon.”
I agree . A 155mm launched UAV or a specific uav launcher platform , would make more sense . But maybe there are small fast reaction forces , that need that ability from existing platforms .
So it essentially means my main gun will be clogged until the UAV is launched. Any enemy tank that catches me will destroy me without me having a chance to take him out first. I don’t know, that’s not what I’d do with a tank destroyer.
The UAV doesn’t look big. I guess a makeshift ramp, that can be set up quickly would be a better idea than bogging down one of the main guns in a tank platoon.
Lance, it isn’t stated anywhere that the UAV is fired out of the gun with the same propellant charge that fires an APFSDS round over five times the speed of sound. It could have a small booster charge or rocket to let it leave the gun tube at enough velocity to get it airborne.
Lance: I imagine they only use a tiny charge or some kind of compressed air launch for the uav. They just use the barrel as a convenient way to release the uav without exposing themselves to enemy fire.
Any kind of heavier charge would, as you say, obliterate the uav no matter what they made it out of especially with the wings opening backwards like that.
It was only a matter of time that someone improve on the Russian concept of cannon-launched guided-missiles and make a full-fledge UAV out of them.
It also goes to show us that there’s more advantages for large-bore cannons other than putting holes into things.
@ Lance i think that they kept that in mind when they designed and built the UAV to make sure that wouldnt happen……
The muzzle blast and recoil would really damage any high tech UAV I dont see this as a advancement in UAV tech.
Apparently not a new concept, it seems to be the same system mentioned here from 2008: http://defense-update.com/events/2008/summary/eurosatory08_ugvs.htm
“The Italian company OtoMelara introduced at Eurosatory 2008 a line of new robotic platforms developed by the newly acquired Celin Avio division. One of the smallest and most innovative systems is the Oto-Horus, a 120mm diameter, 1.3 kg gross T/O weight tube-launched mini-UAV designed for launching from 120mm tank guns. Horus is built from composite materials, and uses foldable canard and forward-swept main wings, optimizing stability, maneuverability and platform dimension. Horus is fitted with an electro-optical payload and can fly a mission for 30 minutes at maximum speed of about 100 km/h. “
The vehicle shown is an Italian B1 Centauro self-propelled gun serving a Reco and Anti-tank role.
See piccie here…………
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Centauro01.JPEG
The USA had a number for Trials that led to the LAV version now in US A rmy service. They should have stuck with the Italian one!
This version has a 105mm cannon but there is another version that has a 120mm cannon. There is also an IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) version that carries a 25mm cannon in a HITFIST turret also shared with a tracked IFV the Italians have……….3-man crew + 8 troops whilst the original Recon vehicle has a crew of four Commander, gunner, loader and driver.
Regards,
BUG
That is a Centauro wheeled tank destroyer. It has a 120/45 cannon, and is built by Iveco and Oto Melara.
As to the LAV, this is new version of Iveco – Oto Melara Centauro tank destroyer with 120 main gun.
Looks like an Italian Centauro.