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Subject: Who's working on the Very Small Munition?
reefdiver    7/19/2006 9:58:39 PM
I can't find any info about who's doing development on the Very Small Munition. The best I can find is this from janes in 2005:
"Now moving up quickly in USAF planning is the Very Small Munition (VSM), principally designed for close air support (CAS), particularly in urban areas. USAF and industry documents define the VSM as an 18-25 kg weapon, incorporating a small solid rocket motor, GPS-inertial guidance, a two-way datalink and a semi-active laser seeker. The goal is a very high load-out on both manned and unmanned vehicles; the ability to target the weapon both from the air and from the ground; and a combination of high-precision and low-collateral damage.

VSM planners are looking at long-endurance aircraft as candidates for the initial platform for the missile. The A-10 could carry between 36 and 54 weapons and is being upgraded with the new Sniper targeting pod. The MQ-9A Predator B would carry 24 missiles on four launchers."

- Sounds like it would make the A-10 and Predator B extremely powerful... I imagine they'll put these on AC-130's as well.
 
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EW3    RE:Who's working on the Very Small Munition?   7/19/2006 10:23:31 PM
It's mentioned here: link The PPT is from 2005 so it's not that old. Has POM of 2008 listed for VSM. (slide 16 of 25) The Army as I recall is interested in a smart Hydra Rocket which may be in competition. link It's a bit smaller but you could carry more rounds.
 
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reefdiver    RE:Who's working on the Very Small Munition? -ew3   7/19/2006 10:33:21 PM
Still didn't find the company(s) working on the VSM. Love the laser guided hydras. Heli pilots are going to love them as well. Wonder if they'll put the Hydra's and VSM's on AC-130's along with the Viper Strikes?
 
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hybrid    RE:Who's working on the Very Small Munition?   7/20/2006 4:47:33 AM
So far it looks like AFSOC is working on it internally I'd guess. link
 
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andyf    cas airpower   7/20/2006 11:35:28 AM
I saw a documentary yesterday, mentioned a system called 'dominator' swarms of persistent UAV armed with 3 such weapons each. I htink that this is the future of CAS, with modern MANPADS and things like the 2S6 tunguska a10 and the like are getting obsolescent
 
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reefdiver    RE:cas airpower   7/20/2006 11:52:32 AM
I had originally read the Dominator (originally 40+hours loiter, probably down to 12 or so in reality) would carry the SKEET submunition (from the original BAT system) and use a LADAR targeting system. I hadn't heard about it having the VSM on it.
 
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