Patrol in middle of nowhere is fired on so they call in support. They don't actually know specifically where the enemy is so plastering the location with air burst dumb rounds makes as much sense as anything. If it's a compound then ROE won't allow them to fire on it anyway. If clearing the compound becomes the plan then reinforcement and drones and the on-call Super Tucano become part of the plan in case approval is given to attack the compound.

gatnerd said...

The thing is, waging war is an absurdly expensive enterprise:

And that is with the current 3rd rate equipment. Actually trying to field better equipment will drive that price up further. 

The only change I'm suggesting is more mortars in the mortar platoon and procuring a new fairly low tech vehicle mounted mortar system 

Do you have any information on sniper locator systems?  Specifically the environments they work in, assuming they do work, and their size.

Short answer is no.

Long answer is, that as far as I am aware, the number of actually useful systems is very small.

This is the blurb for a German system but it has little in the way of facts 

https://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/en/rheinmetall_defence/public_relations/themen_im_fokus/keine_chance_fuer_heckenschuetzen/index.php

The last one is Spanish-made. By Expal, more preciselly

Ground based APKWS continues to be refined; a self contained unit for mounting APKWS + Laser designator to various 'technical' vehicles

https://www.l3harris.com/all-capabilities/vampire

L3Harris’ Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment (VAMPIRE) is a portable kit that can be installed on most vehicles with a cargo bed for launching of the advanced precision kill weapons system (APKWS) or other laser-guided munitions.

VAMPIRE FEATURES

• Designed to complement the low-cost, low-signature and availability of common NTVs and fit in any pickup or vehicle with a cargo bed
• Installation can be completed in approximately two hours by two people using common tools
• Can be configured to meet customer-specific requirements
• Everything is on the pallet. Power supply eliminates the need for a 24-volt alternator on the vehicle
• The WESCAM MX-10™- RSTA independent stabilized sighting system provides ISR overmatch
• Can be equipped with APKWS or other laser-guided munitions

Telescoping aiming mast allows targeting with truck behind cover:

This would be a pretty fantastic system for Ukraine, as well as other smaller militaries relying on 'technical' type pick up trucks. 

gatnerd said:

This would be a pretty fantastic system for Ukraine, as well as other smaller militaries relying on 'technical' type pick up trucks.

APKWS is apparently in the last big tranche of gear from the US to Ukraine.  It's not crystal clear what the launch platform is, but I suspect integration with aircraft is likely to be too time-consuming.  So a ground launcher is quite plausible.  And probably implies that there is a current US user (USSOCOM most likely).

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/what-will-fire-the-laser-guided-rockets-donated-to-ukraine-is-still-a-mystery

Turns out the Vampire APKWS has been sent to Ukraine:

https://greydynamics.com/vampires-in-ukraine-l3s-new-rocket-system/

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/what-the-vampire-weapon-system-the-u-s-is-sending-to-ukraine-can-actually-do

Interestingly its being billed not as a ground to ground weapon, but as an anti drone system:

I suspect it will kill more ground than air targets.

APKWS continues to be upgraded, now with a multipurpose HEDP warhead. 

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/laser-guided-rockets-are-getting-new-highly-versatile-anti-armor-warhead

YouTube

HEAT APAM Warhead for Hydra Guided Rocket

Watch live fire testing at the Mile High Test Center in Sierra Blanca, TX May 3-5, 2022 for General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems HEAT APAM Warhead ...

Paired with the earlier shown proximity fuse (or ideally a multi mode programable fuse for proximity, point impact, or point impact delay) this will make for a really versatile little missile. 

The article lists current all in cost of APKWS is $27,500.