Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1407425
and remove malfunctions of the gun from the inside of the vehicle. In many western turret designs, the auxiliary machine gun is installed in a separate module, attached to the turret shell (or externally, on the front portion of the turret). In any case, the crew would be unable to safely reload, or handle the jammed weapon in combat safely. From that point of view, the Polish system remains superior. The anti-tank armament is also quite clever, in the case of the Polish turret. First, the ATGM has been placed outside the turret, in a removable container. This increases the safety level and makes the turret far more resilient in combat. Secondly, Spike-LR is still one of the two best ATGMs in the world (alongside the French MMP). This is because the Israeli missiles can be guided via an optical fiber, while targets may be locked onto once the ATGM is fired. Why is this so important? For two reasons: the first one stems from the major advantage stemming from the actual range. Polish and German analysts suggest that 1,500 meters is the maximum range for direct fire in Poland (96% of engagements). More than 75% of engagements take place at a distance of up to 850 meters. This would also be the maximum range of conventional ATGMs (TOW-2, Kornet, Khrizantema, or Javelin). The Spike ATGM, with its fiber-optically driven guidance system, is advantageous here, thanks to its BLOS capability (the missile is launched in the given area, and the target is designated during its climb). In other words, the Spike operator does not have to see the target in sight - it is enough for him to know where the enemy roughly is. Whether the information is provided via BMS, UAV, or a soldier - has no relevance here. The target may be attacked at a distance of 4 kilometers in manual mode, or 4.5 kilometers in the automatic mode, once the target is properly designated for F&F engagement. The trajectory adjustment or manual guidance features also provide the Spike ATGM with extra capabilities, not available to other missiles. First, the operator may lock the missile onto a target of higher value, after the missile is launched. Targets that were not originally detected by the ANALYSIS