About that poor T-72 killed by Javelin on official vid

[Abbyy]

Original:



From:

Robert C. Reid
Director

Office of Ethics and Business Conduct

Lockheed Martin Corporation
6801 Rockledge Drive Bethesda, MD 20817
Telephone 301-897-6000

Необычный интерес, вызванный появлением на сайте нашей компании фрагмента видеозаписи полевых испытаний
Javelin shoulder-fired anti-armor system среди посетителей нескольких русскоязычных сайтов не мог остаться без внимания со стороны руководства Компании Lockheed Martin. Настоящее сообщение имеет целью разъяснить ситуацию со взрывом макета танка Т72 и принести извинения гражданам России, чьи патриотические чувства были затронуты так глубоко.
Действительно, как было правильно замечено некоторыми из корреспондентов этого форума, устройства класса Javelin не способны нанести разрушения такой тяжести реальному танку ни одной из стран мира, и , к сожалению, на момент испытаний мы не располагали макетом танка другой страны для учебных стрельб, фрагменты из которых в настоящий момент представлены на сайте Компании Lockheed Martin. Так же является верным предположение о том , что эффект взрыва макета танка был усилен с помощью дополнительной установки радиоуправляемого взрывного устройства весом более 80 lb (-40 кг). Дополнительное взрывчатое вещество являлось экспериментальным и являлось частью другой программы испытаний.
Ещё раз приносим свои извинения и надеемся, что приведённые выше факты явятся достаточными для смягчения конфликтной ситуации а этом и других форумах.


Sincerely,
Robert C. Reid


Back translation from russian:


The uncommon interest, caused by appearance on the site of our company of the fragment of the video recording of field tests Javelin shoulder-fired anti-armor system among the visitors of several Russian sites could not remain without the attention from the side of the management of company Lockheed by Martin. The present communication has as a goal to elucidate situation with the explosion of the dummy tank T-72 and to bring apologies to the citizens of Russia, whose patriotic feelings were touch uponed so deeply. Actually, as it was correctly noted by some of the correspondents of this forum, device of class Javelin was not capable to cause such destruction to the real tank of any country in the world, unforunately at the moment of tests we did not have available any other tank of other countries for the practice firings, fragments from which at the present moment were represented on the site of company Lockheed Martin. So it is correct that the effect of the explosion of dummy tank was intensified with the aid of the additional installation of the radio-controlled explosive device with a weight of more than 80 lb (-40 kg). Additional explosive was experimental and was the part of another test program. We again bring our apologies even we hope that the given above facts will be sufficient for the softening of conflict situation at this and other forums.

Sincerely,
Robert C. Reid
Director

Office of Ethics and Business Conduct

Lockheed Martin Corporation
6801 Rockledge Drive Bethesda, MD 20817
Telephone 301-897-6000

[Mark Sman]

When we blow up M-60s or M048s or whatever in tests who cares. Same for the T-72. Just another test vehicle.

I think they should Jam an Abrams that is out of service with as much explosive as possible, maybe pile sum up underneath, and do the test again.

Heck that would be a great video.

I just like to watch videos of stuff blowing up in tests.

[Kilgor]

Heck that would be a great video.

I just like to watch videos of stuff blowing up in tests.

Exactly mate

I could give a **** where the tank was from, the fact it was a massive cool explosion was what made the video great.

Shame some had to take it as russian equipment bashing thread.

[Abbyy]

Shame some had to take it as russian equipment bashing thread.

That's why i think that is very important letter.

[GazB]

Shame some had to take it as russian equipment bashing thread.

Exactly.

A nice thread about fireworks becomes a boring tirade about how crap Russian and Soviet tanks are.

[Abbyy]

BTW i'll be thankful if someone clean this letter translation from all grammar errors it have.

[Sabre]

Hmmm...

I still don't see how packing a tank full of explosives on a radio-controlled detonator, then blowing it up when the missile hits, is an accurate test of the missile system in question...

...can anyone shed light on this, or was it just Lockheed Martin trying to boost their sales!

[garoco]

I've got a no BS digital image of what an SASR Javelin did to an Iraqi SUV 'technical' if anyone is interested.

[Sabre]

yup

[OldRecon]

In order to achieve that sort of explosion with a small charge one would at least need a quite dense concentration of oxygene inside the tank also.
Though wether the use of all that extra explosive on the target tank in that promotional video was all that much of an accident... :roll: :)

[csqnsas]

Locheed martin wants to sell these.

make it look good and the retired Generals who decide such contracts will buy. Simple

Anyone remeber the Sgt York AA system?

Shown to work on I think Aberdeen proving grounds. Targeting a helicopter and shooting it down. Only later did it come to light that the company producing it had an explosive safety charge built in .To destroy the aircraft to prevent it flying away when it wa damaged.!





Frankly, one of our purposes for being here today is to bring back a few unpleasant memories. No doubt, acquisition officials at the Pentagon would love for Congress and the public to forget notorious weapons like the Sgt. York Air Defense Gun, a mobile, armored anti-aircraft system that was approved for production in 1980 before it was battle-tested. Nearly five years later, after more than a billion dollars of public investment, the Sgt. York gun became such an embarrassment that it had to be cancelled.
http://www.pogo.org/p/defense/dt-020702-bmd.html

[Herrmannek]

I've got a no BS digital image of what an SASR Javelin did to an Iraqi SUV 'technical' if anyone is interested.

Bring it on

[2Sheds_Jackson]

The Internet is a weird place. I just don't know what believe any more.


Reports have reached this office regarding the widely circulated video of the Javelin shoulder-fired anti-armor system, and of a fraudulent letter from this office claiming that the video is not truly authentic.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. The JAS is the world's premiere personal anti-tank system, and it was demonstrated in a real world test. While it's true that the T-72 tank that was destroyed was not a "working model" in that it had to be towed into position, it was otherwise completely authentic and original. No explosives of any kind placed in or around it.

In fact, our engineers had to make some minor structural repairs to it so that it would not be destroyed too easily. Many of the welds had deteriorated from normal use, and were repaired to better than original specification, using American steel. In addition, bracing was added to reduce torsional & longitudinal flex. This bracing nearly filled the crew compartment. Measurements taken to construct the bracing were in Imperial units, not of the inferior metric type which may have contributed to the tank's poor construction. Once this bracing was in place, our tests indicated that this Russian tank was very nearly as durable and tough as any '60s era western main battle tank that may have been at the bottom of the sea for a few years.

As the video clearly shows, even with all the additional structural help, the sorry Russian death trap was no match for an American missile. In fact, the tank was heard to whine and cry as it saw the missile approaching. After the test we received a thank you letter from the Almighty - an indication that he was well pleased by our ridding his planet of one of these third-rate metal abominations.


Sincerely,
Robert C. Reid
Director

Office of Ethics and Business Conduct

Lockheed Martin Corporation
P.O. Box 34143 Bethesda, MD 20827-0143
Telephone 1-800-LM ETHIC

[RomanS]

WHo gives a crap about the video and the letters loool?

Its ok for other countries to do things like this. Little **** syndrome, so they have to fill the tank with a **** load of TNT.

Its the real soldiers and tankers that will find the truth later.

[martinexsquaddie]

export versions of russian tanks vs western tanks
russian tanks lose big style
the only threat on a battlefield to nato tanks are other nato tanks :(

[RomanS]

Russia and NATO already fought, so we know the results???

[American Patriot]

He/she's talking about the boatload of T-55, T-62, and T-72's that Russia and eastern blocs sold to Saddam.

Lots of good target practice for U.S. Army tanks.

[RomanS]

Well what do Iraqies know about tanks?

We can look at the same idea of selling expansive hockey skates, sticks, and gear to Mexico. Doesnt mean Mexico will be good in hockey. But you can't blame the gear.

[Sabre]

Well what do Iraqies know about tanks?

We can look at the same idea of selling expansive hockey skates, sticks, and gear to Mexico. Doesnt mean Mexico will be good in hockey. But you can't blame the gear.

LOL!!!

rofl rofl rofl

very true!

[Saranof]

Well what do Iraqies know about tanks?

We can look at the same idea of selling expansive hockey skates, sticks, and gear to Mexico. Doesnt mean Mexico will be good in hockey. But you can't blame the gear.

Good point
Also, they did anly sell older stuff that they wanted to get rid of. So itäs not like it was a fair fight anyway.

[GazB]

Good point
Also, they did anly sell older stuff that they wanted to get rid of. So itäs not like it was a fair fight anyway.

Lets face it even if you swapped tanks with the Iraqis with M1s and Challangers most of the iraqi tanks were destroyed by airpower anyway so the result would probably be the same... though probably with more Iraqis killed (western tanks have 4 crew, while the T-72 has three crew).

All the safety features of the western tanks don't make much difference when the weapon used against them is a 500lb LGB.