With the continuous development of unmanned autonomous technology, all military powers in the world are sparing no effort to develop a new generation of unmanned combat equipment. In addition to traditional unmanned combat equipment such as unmanned combat vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned warships and so on. Unmanned short-range and long-range strike systems based on unmanned autonomous technology have also begun to appear. The AML unmanned rocket launcher being studied by the US Army is one of the typical representative equipment.
Development background and general situation of equipment
For a long time, the U.S. Army has been committed to researching various unmanned combat equipment in order to win the war with the least investment in future operations.
20 19 The U.S. military proposes to apply unmanned driving technology to the corresponding missile equipment field in the future. Subsequently, the US Army proposed to apply unmanned autonomous technology to its M 142 rocket launcher, or to develop a new unmanned rocket launcher based on it. AML unmanned rocket launcher is a product born under this background.
The prototype AML unmanned rocket launcher based on the M 142 rocket launcher, which is being tested, still retains the armored cab of the M 142 rocket launcher.
AML unmanned rocket launcher, also known as "autonomous multi-domain launcher". It is an unmanned wheeled long-range multi-barrel rocket launcher, developed by the US Army, suitable for future operations and adopting independent technology. In 2020, the Aviation and Missile Center under the US Army Combat Capability Development Command and the Aviation and Missile Technology Alliance launched a new AML unmanned rocket launcher development plan.
The purpose is to develop this brand-new technical concept and explore the necessary technologies that determine its future development prospects. 202 1 1 The U.S. Army signed a research and development contract with relevant units for AML unmanned rocket launchers. On 2021June 16, the unmanned rocket launcher based on M 142 long-range multi-barrel rocket launcher was tested for the first time in Oklahoma, USA.
The shooting demonstration was carried out, and this unmanned rocket launcher based on M 142 rocket launcher was also regarded as the prototype of AML unmanned rocket launcher to verify some technical concepts involved in AML unmanned rocket launcher.
Introduction of equipment performance and characteristics
Combined with the existing information, the AML unmanned rocket launcher, like the M 142 rocket launcher, adopts a similar 6×6 wheeled high-powered vehicle chassis, which has the characteristics of light weight and good maneuverability. It can be transported by medium-sized tactical transport aircraft such as C- 130 series, which can take off and land on the runway in front, which is more conducive to the rapid deployment and transfer of AML unmanned rocket launchers in wartime.
At the same time, the AML unmanned rocket launcher also adopts a modular launch box with the functions of "storage, transportation and launch" and has the launch capability of "rocket launcher". Secondly, because the cab part is omitted, AML unmanned rocket launcher can save more weight and improve its bomb load.
According to the concept renderings of AML unmanned rocket launcher released at present, it can carry two modular launch boxes of 4-pack 227mm rocket launchers with the function of "storage, transportation and launch", while manned M 142 rocket launcher can only carry 1 6 modular launch boxes of 227mm rocket launchers with the function of "storage, transportation and launch".
Moreover, AML unmanned rocket launchers can not only use various 227 mm rockets (such as GMLRS precision guided rockets). ) and ATACMS missiles currently equipped by the us army. It can also launch a new generation of long-range rockets with larger size and longer range that the US Army is currently developing. At the same time, it also has the ability to launch the Prsm missile currently being tested by the US Army.
In addition, considering that the later model of Prsm missile can not only reach the maximum range of 1000 km, but also carry out anti-ship combat missions, AML unmanned rocket launcher can become a relatively simple unmanned medium-range missile launcher in the future, and can also be used for large moving targets at sea.
Such as aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates and so on. Of course, for AML unmanned rocket launchers, the outstanding feature is that no one is independent. AML unmanned rocket launcher is equipped with CCD camera, laser radar and global positioning system, and adopts unmanned autonomous technology, which has the functions of following driving, autonomous waypoint navigation, drive by wire, remote control, manned/unmanned cooperative operation and so on. It can be used with M 142 rocket launcher in wartime.
Application value and significance
As an important equipment for future operations planned by the US Army.
AML unmanned rocket launcher brings together two key elements of the U.S. Army's modernization strategy, namely, robot technology and unmanned autonomy, which represents a development trend of the U.S. Army's land-based unmanned strike equipment. In addition, the mass equipment of AML unmanned rocket launchers in the future will also provide a cheap, flexible and easy-to-deploy medium-and long-range strike equipment for the US Army. Because AML unmanned rocket launcher is very suitable for use in the battle environment of islands and the battle to seize islands, it can also enhance the US military's ability to resist "regional refusal/anti-intervention" and "land-based maritime control" in the Asia-Pacific region in the future.