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Originally Posted by Swift Sword
I am not sure for at least two reasons. First, SDB's electronics have to be proof to the various forces and shocks of whatever the deployment aboard the F35 would bring. Secondly, electronics and telemetry have long been been capable of withstanding a beating as evidenced by the USAR's Copperhead round and the work of Canada's own Dr. Bull.
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Copperhead's electronics were specifically designed to take the thousands of Gs needed for a gun-launch. SDB's are not. They're probably fairly rugged, but not on that order.
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Originally Posted by Swift Sword
As to cost, I have two points as well. First, economies of scale viz the widespread use of the the GBU-39 aboard F35 aircraft both foreign and domestic should be taken into account. Secondly, the cost of gee whiz rounds for the proposed AGS ala DDX/DDG is expected to run towards $100,000, if IIRC.
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$50k each is the volume price that I saw. I'll try to find the link.
Yep, most of the guided rounds are also pricey.
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Originally Posted by Swift Sword
Too, one accurate, effective and relatively smart round is probably worth more than a fusilade of lower cost and dumb rounds in the grand scheme of things but ultimately there are are various levels of cost v. volume considertions.
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This is certainly true if you have accurate targetting. But that's not always the case. There's still a need for relatively cheap, area fires - which is what a gun can give you.
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Originally Posted by Swift Sword
SMACM is nice but something like that is ultimately probably best dropped on demand from Earth orbit if you really think about it.
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Except that putting a pound in orbit costs ~$10k, and weaponizing space has serious political ramifications.
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Originally Posted by Swift Sword
As to Top Cover, I can see a few problems with that.
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Like what?
My ideal system would share a common engine, airframe and basic avionics for a disposable UAV, loitering attack munition, and mini-cruise missile variants. All of which could be packed four per VLS cell, or maybe even nine per PVLS.
If you could make the cruise missile variant have a similar warhead penetration and performance to the SDB, it could take over many of the TLAM's tasks.
A 24 hour endurance, disposable UAV could be used like an airborne sonobouy - just fire off a few when you need extra sensor coverage.
The loitering munition could be used to hunt down SAM sites, attack hidden armor, kill Scuds, Al Qaeda, you name it.
Heck, if you could get a high-subsonic cruise plus a short, supersonic burst out of the engine (ala MALI), you could even use it as a long-ranged, loitering SAM.