高級精確殺傷武器

????我們已經(jīng)進(jìn)入數(shù)碼時(shí)代了，為什么還要展出這么多２.７５英寸的非制導(dǎo)空地火箭彈模型呢？BAE公司推出的高級精確殺傷武器系統(tǒng)（即上圖最后側(cè)的那枚較小的火箭彈）讓以前非智能的炸彈搖身一變，變成了為２１世紀(jì)戰(zhàn)爭所準(zhǔn)備的精確激光制導(dǎo)炸彈。

????高級精確殺傷武器系統(tǒng)（簡稱APKWS）的好處在于它不需要對使用該彈藥的飛機(jī)的硬件進(jìn)行升級。這種火箭彈在美軍各單位中非常普遍，它可以從AH-10或MH-60“黑鷹”武裝直升機(jī)上發(fā)射，也可以從A-10“雷電”攻擊機(jī)或鷂式戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)上發(fā)射。美國國防部的倉庫里有成千上萬這種傳統(tǒng)的非制導(dǎo)炸彈（這種炸彈也叫Hydra 70，它基本上就是朝鮮戰(zhàn)爭和越戰(zhàn)中用到的MK40火箭彈的現(xiàn)代化改款）。不過在現(xiàn)代戰(zhàn)場上，這種非制導(dǎo)炸彈可不僅僅是一件古董，它很可能會(huì)對戰(zhàn)斗地點(diǎn)附近的友軍和非戰(zhàn)斗人員造成危險(xiǎn)。

????軍事技術(shù)公司BAE就此給出了它的解決方案：給軍火庫中積壓的現(xiàn)有火箭彈安裝一個(gè)激光制導(dǎo)模塊。這個(gè)模塊安裝在火箭彈的馬達(dá)與彈頭之間。作戰(zhàn)時(shí)，其打擊目標(biāo)可由地面的前線人員制導(dǎo)，也可以由執(zhí)行打擊任務(wù)的戰(zhàn)機(jī)自身或該空域的其他飛機(jī)制導(dǎo)（這種方式叫做“配合發(fā)射”。BAE把這項(xiàng)小項(xiàng)術(shù)與一種久經(jīng)戰(zhàn)火考驗(yàn)的彈藥結(jié)合在一起，為如何把現(xiàn)有傳統(tǒng)武器改造成能精確制導(dǎo)的智能武器點(diǎn)明了方向。這不僅能使國防部門從已經(jīng)投資的經(jīng)費(fèi)中獲得最大效果，同時(shí)也意味著擊中一個(gè)給定目標(biāo)所需要的彈藥消耗少了。另外它每發(fā)射一次的成本只有2.8萬美元，所以它的意義是非同尋常的。

Advanced Precision Kill Weapon

????What's a digital age fighting force to do with storehouses full of 2.75-inch unguided, analog air to ground rockets? BAE's Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (it's the smaller projectile on the far right in the image above) turns formerly dumb munitions into precision laser-guided rockets ready for 21st-century warfare.

????The beauty of the APKWS is that it requires no hardware upgrade to the aircraft that use it. These particular rockets are fairly universal among American military branches and can be fired from workhorse helicopter platforms like the AH-10 or MH-60 Black Hawk as well as fixed-wing aircraft like the A-10 Warthog or the Harrier "jump jet." The Department of Defense has thousands upon thousands of these conventional, unguided rockets laying around (known as Hydra 70s, they are basically modern variants of the Mk 40 rocket used in the Korean and Vietnam wars). But on a modern battlefield, such unguided rockets are not only somewhat antique -- they're potentially dangerous for close-in friendly ground troops as well as any non-combatants in the area of operations.

????Defense technology firm BAE's solution: a laser guidance module that can be retrofitted onto existing rockets already in the arsenal. Tucked between the rocket motor and the small warhead in the nose of the rocket, the guidance system can detect targets "painted" with a laser by forward operators on the ground, the attacking aircraft itself, or other aircraft in the area (that's known as a "buddy lase"). By embedding this small technology package on a proven, battle-tested armament, BAE has figured out how to turn existing stores of dumb weapons into precision, guided smart weapons. That not only allows the armed services to get the most out of money already invested, but it means fewer rockets have to be fired to take out a given target. At just under $28,000 a shot, that makes a real difference.