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I presume you've read this: https://www.asafm.army.mil/Portals/72/Documents/BudgetMaterial/2024/Base Budget/rdte/RDTE-Vol 3-Budget Activity 7.pdfThe fact that EAW is applicable to both Standard Range GMRS and ER GMLRS suggests that this isn't the same warhead for both, but rather an approach to warhead design. Nothing in the document suggests a larger warhead to me (that would require a rocket redesign, not just warhead). Rather, it suggests they are tinkering with height-of-burst and fragment size (probably more large fragments) to penetrate vehicle armor.IMO, the really interesting item in that same document is this:The interesting bit is that they are looking at multiple alternative SFW payloads here. The currently fielded ones (BLU-108/Skeet, SMArt, BONUS) are 5-6 inches in diameter, just the wrong size to fit efficiently into a 10-inch ER GMLRS. You only get one stack of munitions and a lot of waste space around it. Are they looking at other options? Anyone know of an existing SFW closer to 4-4.5 inches in diameter? That would pack much more efficiently.
I presume you've read this: https://www.asafm.army.mil/Portals/72/Documents/BudgetMaterial/2024/Base Budget/rdte/RDTE-Vol 3-Budget Activity 7.pdf
The fact that EAW is applicable to both Standard Range GMRS and ER GMLRS suggests that this isn't the same warhead for both, but rather an approach to warhead design. Nothing in the document suggests a larger warhead to me (that would require a rocket redesign, not just warhead). Rather, it suggests they are tinkering with height-of-burst and fragment size (probably more large fragments) to penetrate vehicle armor.
IMO, the really interesting item in that same document is this:
The interesting bit is that they are looking at multiple alternative SFW payloads here. The currently fielded ones (BLU-108/Skeet, SMArt, BONUS) are 5-6 inches in diameter, just the wrong size to fit efficiently into a 10-inch ER GMLRS. You only get one stack of munitions and a lot of waste space around it. Are they looking at other options? Anyone know of an existing SFW closer to 4-4.5 inches in diameter? That would pack much more efficiently.
