US Marines to get new PERMS

[unhappycamper]

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/01/25/us-marines-to-get-new-perms/?cmpid=prn_military



US Marines to get new PERMS
By Allison Barrie

Last February in Afghanistan, Marines used an Excalibur round to kill a Taliban insurgent team in a record-setting artillery strike. This week the United States Marine Corps announced an update to this guided munition: a new, highly lethal round to support combat operations.

The Precision Extended Range Munition -- or PERM, like the hairstyle but far more lethal -- will be blasted from towers against adversaries in the field.

This week the U.S. Marine Corps signed a contract with Raytheon to build this weapon, which strikes distant targets that cannot be seen from the aiming position. Such “precision indirect fire” allows the Marine Corps to remain unseen or concealed from the enemy while still effectively striking targets.

Improved precision also importantly translates into reduced collateral damage as well.



unhappycamper comment: Great. The 155mm Exclaibur round costs $89 grand. I wonder how much the 120mm round will cost?

[bluedigger]

1. I'm not sure what they need this for.

What are the operational and tactical requirements that make the Marines think they need this weapon system? It seems like existing weapons could engage targets at this range more effectively and efficiently.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. This allows for fairly accurate fire for the first shot without ranging fire, which is typical

for artillery. We will not always have spotters in the air or on the ground. Ground strike aircraft may not be available when needed.

[bluedigger]

6. The "we might need it someday" reason.

I'm sure every Battalion infantry commander would like organic nukes at his disposal, as well. Engaging targets at over 20 miles away is not an infantry mission. Let the artillery perform the artillery mission and the infantry do theirs. I have no doubt that as soon as these 120mm rounds are perfected that a development and procurement program will be needed for 81mm mortar rounds, and once those have entered the inventory, Raytheon will find compelling needs to equip light infantry 60mm mortar squads with them, too. The money going to this program would be far better spent in repair and replenishment of existing equipment, which is being badly neglected.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. It is an artillery mission

This gets accurate fire on the designated coordinates without the requirement for ranging fire and observers, on the ground or in the air. This has been sought for quite some time. As the costs reduce, it could well spread. Look at the cost drop for LGBs.

[bluedigger]

8. It's mission creep.

And stop repeating the observer explanation to me. I'm an ex 13E/11C, I know how the artillery works, and I think the money would be better spent elsewhere. I wonder how many generals Raytheon is keeping occupied with this program. Do you have any expert knowledge on that?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

10. I don't see it as mission creep, especially for the Marines which deploy as a MEU.

I also think the example of the LGB kits may make this a viable solution in the long run...Artillery that goes where you want it to the first time without observers...a good thing is it not?

[earthside]

2. Who owns Raytheon?

America's most elite financial institutions ...

http://stockzoa.com/ticker/rtn/

[dballance]

3. PERM, like the hairstyle but far more lethal

I don't know about that. I grew up in the South. There was some pretty lethal big hair there. The higher the hair the closer to God they say.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. Actually a poodle perm under a helmet would provide some cushioning effect.

clearly the hydrocodone is getting to me this AM

[Scuba]

9. Funny, I don't feel safer. Now if we had Medicare for All I'd feel safer.