Israel Aircraft Industries has unveiled Jumper, an autonomous vertical-launch artillery missile system for ground forces, at a defense show in Latrun, Israel.
Not the Tardis (Photo: IAI)
Jumper consists of eight canistered missiles and a command-and-control unit housed in a 3 X 3 "hive" measuring 1.4 X 1.4 X 2m tall. No operating crew or launching platform is required, says IAI.
Weighing in at 63kg, and with a range of 50km, the tail-steered missile is 1.8m long and 150mm in diameter and has GPS/INS guidance coupled with a semi-active laser seeker. IAI says the weapon can carry "several possible warheads".
Jumper is similar in concept to the NLOS-LS container-launched missile system under development by Raytheon/Lockheed Martin joint-venture NetFires. Each NLOS-LS container carries 15 GPS/INS/IIR/SAL-guided Precision Attack Missiles. Fielding by the US Army is planned for 2011.
Sheesh.. :/
Such a missile-in-a-box is much simpler and cheaper than a manned artillery piece or an overhead CAS aircraft.
I expected to see a modified Spike or Barak missile, but Jumper is smaller, and that 50km range suggests a sustainer motor.
Simpler? not sure either vs a gun.
For sure they are (missile, cas, gun) solutions to different situations.