Integrated Family of Weapons
| Integrated Family of Weapons | |
|---|---|
| File:ATGM.png | |
| Type | Multi-role infantry support system |
| Place of origin |  Carthage |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2010-present |
| Used by | Carthage |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Army Ballistics and Gunnery Research Center North Iberian Electrical Systems |
| Designed | 1999-2008 |
| Manufacturer | North Iberian Electrical Systems Santos de Cuba |
| Unit cost | NSD$165,000 (CLU) (FY2014) |
| Produced | 2008-present |
| No. built | 250,000 CLUs |
| LLM-152 | |
|---|---|
 LLM-152 with ammunition | |
| Type | Multi-role recoilless weapon |
| Place of origin | Carthage |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2010-present |
| Used by | Carthage |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Army Ballistics and Gunnery Research Center Cooperative Defense Industries |
| Designed | 1999-2008 |
| Manufacturer | Cooperative Defense Industries Philosir Precision Instruments |
| Unit cost | NSD$17,000 (launcher) (FY2014) |
| Produced | 2008-present |
| No. built | 275,000 launchers |
| Specifications (LLM-152) | |
| Weight | 5.4 kg (12 lb) (launcher) 13.4 kg (30 lb) (loaded) |
| Length | 660 mm (26 in) (unloaded) 1.26 m (50 in) (loaded) |
| Diameter | 110 mm (4.3 in) (launch tube) |
| Crew | 2 |
| Caliber | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Rate of fire | 1 round per 30 seconds |
| Muzzle velocity | 290 m/s (950 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 600 m (660 yd) |
| Maximum firing range | 1,800 m (2,000 yd) |
| Feed system | Detachable single-rocket canister |
| Sights | 4× day sight, laser rangefinder, thermal sight |
| Engine | Boost-after-launch solid-fuel rocket |
Launch platform | Man-portable |
| SMM-760M Chihaya-M | |
|---|---|
 SMM-760 Chihaya missile family with CLU. | |
| Type | Anti-tank guided missile |
| Place of origin | Carthage |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2010-present |
| Used by | Carthage |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Army Ballistics and Gunnery Research Center North Iberian Electrical Systems |
| Designed | 1999-2008 |
| Manufacturer | North Iberian Electrical Systems Santos de Cuba |
| Unit cost | NSD$60,000 (missile) (FY2014) |
| Produced | 2008-present |
| No. built | 800,000 missiles |
| Specifications (SMM-760M Chihaya-M) | |
| Weight | 20.5 kg (45 lb) (carry weight) 3.8 kg (8.4 lb) (CLU) |
| Length | 1.1 m (3.6 ft) (missile) 1.26 m (4.1 ft) (launch tube) |
| Diameter | 130 mm (5.1 in) (missile) 142 mm (5.6 in) (launch tube) |
| Crew | 2 |
| Rate of fire | Ready to fire in 30 seconds, reload in 15 seconds |
| Effective firing range | 5,000 m (3.1 mi) |
| Sights | 4-10× day sight, 4× and 12× LWIR thermal sight, far target locator |
| Warhead | Tandem-charge HEAT |
| Warhead weight | 8.4 kg (19 lb) |
Detonation mechanism | Impact |
| Engine | Solid-fuel rocket |
| Wingspan | 310 mm (12 in) |
| Speed | 220 m/s (720 ft/s) |
Guidance system | Dual CCD/IR seeker |
Launch platform | Man-portable |
The Integrated Family of Weapons is a group of man-portable infantry support systems composed of a fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile series, a shoulder-launched rocket weapon, and a shared targeting and surveillance module. Introduced to the Carthage Defense Forces in 2010, the IFOW integrates two previously separate weapon systems into a single family designed to provide a complete range of heavy supporting fire options at the squad and platoon level, including anti-bunker, anti-tank, and smokelaying capabilities.
History
Development
Overview
The Integrated Family of Weapons is a group of infantry support weapons designed to provide the rifle squads with flexible anti-bunker, anti-armor, and battlefield obscurant options. It is composed of the LLM-152 shoulder-fired recoilless rocket launcher and the SMM-760 Chihaya anti-tank guided missile series, unified by the EPS-2315 command launch unit. A full set of the family is normally issued to each squad and carried in the squad's personnel carriers, although not all options are expected to be used at once and different elements can be dismounted with the squad to respond to different mission requirements.
The LLM-152 launcher is normally carried in the support team of each infantry squad and is responsible for defeating fortifications, light armor, and providing smoke cover for advancing forces. It is a core element of the rifle squad's capabilities in combat alongside the squad automatic rifle in the support team and the grenadier's grenade rifle in the assault team. The addition of the LLM-152 to the rifle squad is a result of combat experience in the Argentine Intervention, where soldiers reported a greater need for anti-bunker firepower for urban operations beyond what could be easily provided by compact disposable launchers. Available ammunition includes HEDP, tandem-charge HEAT, smoke, tandem-charge anti-bunker, and thermobaric, and smoke rounds, although HEDP and smoke are by far the most commonly issued rounds.
The SMM-760 Chihaya is an anti-tank missile system designed to provide squads with an organic anti-tank capability. Originally developed as a replacement for the Type-42 anti-tank missile system in weapons platoons, the greater need for anti-armor capabilities beyond light disposable launchers warranted the wider deployment of the system to individual rifle squads. The system is currently composed of two missile types, the standalone, disposable Chihaya-L and the more complex, capable Chihaya-M. Both types may be carried and operated by the squad's designated anti-armor specialist or by the recoilless launcher team in lieu of the LLM-152 launcher.
Both systems are capable of being used with the EPS-2315 command launch unit, which contains an array of sensors including a LWIR sensor, optical sight, laser rangefinder and a fire control computer capable of tracking targets and uploading guidance data to the attached weapon systems. The EPS-2315 is also designed to function as a general squad surveillance device, capable of being used independently for long range reconnaissance.
Components
Command Launch Unit
The EPS-2315 CLU is the reusable surveillance and targeting component of IFOW used with both the LLM-152 recoilless launcher and the SMM-760 missile system. The CLU is equipped with a high-definition daylight camera, long-wave infrared sensor, laser designator and rangefinder, a far target locator, heading sensor, and has both wireless and wired connectivity with nearby vehicles and weapons platforms. The unit is powered by a replaceable and rechargeable lithium-ion battery or may be connected to an external power source such as a vehicle or generator. Unlike the personal IR sensors used by individual troops, the CLU's long-wave IR sensor is cooled by a small refrigeration unit for increased sensitivity.
The gunner has access to a 4× magnification day sight, 4× WFOV thermal sight, and 12× NFOW night sight to conduct surveillance and identify targets for engagement, after which the CLU transmits the necessary targeting data to the attached launch unit. In the case of the LLM-152, this data includes rate-of-change and basic range information to allow the warhead's onboard inertial guidance system to keep the round on target after launch. In the case of the SMM-760 series, the missile seeker is activated and locks the target that has been identified by the gunner and is launched once the gunner confirms the correct target has been selected.
The CLU is also designed to be used as a standalone surveillance and sensor unit by the infantry without attachment to a separate weapon system and has separate hand grips for this purpose. In this role, it may be used as a more sensitive thermal imager thanks to its cooled long-wave sensor as well as a laser designator for targeting strikes by other platforms. It enhances the ability of infantry squads to operate independently of their vehicles or other platforms that may carry larger, higher-performance sensors by bringing this capability to the dismounted infantry squad.
LLM-152 launcher unit
The LLM-152 launcher is an improved derivative of the Byzantine B-300 used in small quantities by naval infantry and special forces teams prior to 2001. It is used as a general squad support weapon, capable of launching a variety of high-explosive, anti-armor, and smoke shells to defeat enemy entrenchments and light vehicles. The LLM-152 is designed to be operated by a team of two men, a gunner who carries the launcher unit and two rounds and an assistant who carries two additional rounds and assists in the loading and operation of the weapon. Other members of the support team are generally expected to also carry additional ammunition, bringing the total number of rounds carried by a normal support team to eight.
Compared to the B-300, the LLM-152 uses a shorter and lighter fiberglass-epoxy launch tube with a thermoset polymer bore and a lighter, simplified hand grip arrangement. A mounting point for the sighting unit is attached to the upper left of the tube and attachment points for the EPS-2315 CLU are mounted below. The LLM-152 may be operated either with its standard detachable sighting unit, containing a 4× day sight, uncooled thermal sight, and laser rangefinder, or with the EPS-2315 CLU, which adds additional capabilities on top of those provided by the sighting unit.
Both sighting units can calculate the proper elevation and lead angle for the operator and download this information to the appropriate loaded round. Both the LLM-2120 and LLM-2123 have course-correcting guidance systems enabling them to follow mobile targets when provided with rate-of-change data before launch and the LLM-2120 has an airbursting fuze option that can be automatically set based on the laser rangefinder's indicated range to target.
Ammunition
Six primary types of ammunition were developed for the LLM-152, with some derived from existing rounds for the LLM-150 and LLM-151 launchers and others newly developed for the LLM-152. All types of ammunition are housed in disposable composite tubes and include a countermass module of shredded plastic to enable fire-from-enclosure capability. Ammunition types are visually identified by colored bands on each launch tube and each contains an electronic datalink to the firing unit's sensors.
- LMM-2120 - A high-explosive dual-purpose (HEDP) round that can be set for airburst, impact, and delay fuzing. The LMR-2120 is capable of penetrating in excess of 150 millimeters (5.9 in) of rolled homogenous armor and has a fragmentation sleeve for anti-infantry effects. The warhead is derived from that of the 66-millimeter (2.6 in) warhead in the LLM-151AM7 launcher. Due to its effectiveness against a wide range of targets, the LMM-2120 is the most commonly-issued round for the LLM-152.
- LMR-2121 - A thermobaric round designed to be used against light enclosures equipped with an impact and airbursting fuze.
- LMS-2122 - A bursting smoke round designed to rapidly deploy a smokescreen for concealment. The smokescreen is capable of obscuring visible and infrared visibility and work is underway to develop an improved smokescreen capable of defeating millimeter wave sensors.
- LMT-2123 - A tandem-charge HEAT round optimized for defeating tanks and other heavily-armored vehicles protected by explosive reactive armor. The warhead is believed to be capable of penetrating in excess of 600 millimeters (24 in) of armor after ERA. With the availability of the top-attack SMM-760 Chihaya missile series, the LMT-2123 is rarely issued.
- LMR-2124 - A tandem-charge anti-bunker round with a precursor penetrator and a follow-through-grenade designed to detonate inside the target structure.
- LTT-2125 - An inert practice warhead designed to emulate the ballistics and loading procedure of standard LLM-152 warheads. It contains the same flight control electronics as the other munitions but is designed to be recovered and easily repaired for reuse.
SMM-760 Chihaya
The SMM-760 Chihaya missile series is a family of guided anti-tank weapons designed to arm both infantry and vehicles. The initial development program included four different missile sizes and types sharing many of the same components, including the SMM-760C Chihaya-C compact missile for defeating bunkers, the SMM-760L Chihaya-L short-range anti-tank missile, the SMM-760M Chihaya-M medium-range anti-tank missile, and the SMM-760H Chihaya-H stand-off missile. Only the Chihaya-L and Chihaya-M entered service as the roles of both the Chihaya-C and Chihaya-H were already filled by other systems.
The SMM-760L is a lightweight guided anti-tank weapon with greater capability than the LLM-152 recoilless launcher but without the bulk and complication of the longer-ranged SMM-760M system. The system is designed to be fully standalone and disposable and includes a basic day sight and display screen connected to the missile's seeker, allowing the operator to select targets. It is a fire-and-forget weapon and the entire launch unit may be discarded after launch although the sight and display screen may be removed and recovered. It has a maximum range of approximately 1,500 meters (4,900 ft).
The SMM-760M is a more capable system designed to be used with the EPS-2315 CLU and does not include independent sights. The SMM-760M has a longer missile body than the SMM-760L and includes additional propellant and a fiber-optic spool for man-in-the-loop guidance. The graphite fiber and resin launch tube is discarded after use but the CLU is reused. The maximum range is approximately 5,000 meters (16,000 ft).
Missile
The SMM-760L and SMM-760M both use the same multi-purpose tandem-charge HEAT warhead, composed of a molybdenum-lined precursor charge and a copper-lined main charge. The warhead is designed to defeat modern explosive reactive armor as well as underlying composite armor. The warhead also has a steel fragmentation sleeve to increase lethality against infantry targets when the missile is used against targets other than armored vehicles.
A separate multi-purpose anti-bunker warhead was also developed, composed of a precursor charge designed to breach the walls of the target fortification and a follow-on charge designed to enter through this breach before detonating. This warhead is identical in weight to the anti-tank warhead and is fully interchangeable. Procurement was not approved for this warhead as the LMR-2124 anti-bunker munition was already believed to fill this role adequately.
Seeker
The seeker used in the SMM-760L and SMM-760M is composed of an uncooled 128×128 mercury cadmium telluride long-wave IR sensor and a high-definition color display to improve target discrimination in high-clutter environments and to defeat both IR and visual countermeasures. Unlike previous IR-guided missiles, the SMM-760M seeker is electrically powered by the CLU before launch, allowing the missile to be locked-on to potential targets repeatedly without drawing down the missile's onboard power or gas supply. As the Chihaya-L is designed to be used independently of the CLU, it does not have this re-targeting capability when using its onboard targeting mechanism.
In the Chihaya-M, the video feed from both sensors is transmitted via fiber-optic cable to the launcher if desired, allowing man-in-the-loop guidance for positive control in crowded environments or situations in which collateral damage is a concern. The use of a fiber-optic cable allows the weapon to be guided to an obscured target without concerns for maintaining line-of-sight communications, with the target selected after launch by the gunner once the missile has spotted the target. A wireless datalink is in development for longer-ranged vehicle-based applications.
The seeker is also capable of guiding the missile independently making the SMM-760 series a fully fire-and-forget weapon. The use of wire guidance and fire-and-forget modes is determined by the gunner before launch based on situational factors in the SMM-760M and is the only launch mode in the SMM-760L. The fire-and-forget mode is claimed to use newer targeting algorithms that make the missile more difficult to distract or defeat and more difficult to intercept as a response to the proliferation of active protection systems in modern armored fighting vehicles.
Combat history
Operators
- Carthage – Over 29,000 units purchased with additional contracts expected for National Militia use.
- Army of Carthage: An estimated 28,000 units are in service.
- Naval Infantry: An estimated 1,000 units are in service.
Japan – Over 6,000 units purchased with additional contracts for another 4,000 units.
- Imperial Army: An estimated 4,500 units are in service.
- Special Naval Landing Forces: An estimated 1,500 units are in service.
