It's only $89,000 a round but . . .

[unhappycamper]

unhappycamper note: Since the ‘Pentagon’ (Righthaven LLC? Gannett?) has ‘requested’ that I only post one paragraph from articles on Army Times, and Airforce Times, To keep in that same (new) tradition, I will also do the same for for articles on Navy Times, Marine Corps Times, stripes.com and military.com.
To read the article in the military's own words, you will need to click the link.

Read all about Fair Use here. It sure is beginning to smell like fascism.

unhappycamper summary of this article: For $89,000 a round, these are a tad expensive.




Artillery gets more accurate, lethal
By Lance M. Bacon - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 15, 2010 5:24:52 EST

Anchoring this arsenal is the Excalibur precision-guided artillery round. It launches at 1,800 mph with a range of 26 miles and lands with unprecedented accuracy.

[hobbit709]

1. So in today's assymetrical wars., it will cost $89K per shot

To take out a $3K pickup full of "suspected insurgents"

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

2. I don't think the price is bad cosidering they will dramatically lower civilian casualties.

Hellfire missles (typical air-to-ground) cost in the neighborhood of 70k
AIM-120 missles (air to air) cost about 300k to 700k depending on the variant
Stinger missles (surface to air) are about 40k
JDAM (guided smart-bombs) are about $40-$70k

All in all, based on the going rates, I think something that can reach out 14 miles and hit within 30 feet is a bargain at only $90,000.

[leveymg]

3. I heard this same pseudo-humanitarian argument for the use of DIME munitions in Lebanon in 2006.

The lethality is a draw. These so-called smart munitions are simply more lethal within a smaller area than the old dumb "iron" bombs and artillery rounds.

Not a bargain, not more humane, just more expensive and a windfall for tech companies.

[gratuitous]

5. Why would it lower civilian casualties?

If you drop an $89,000 Excalibur on a wedding party, it's bound to kill about the same number of civilians as a $40,000 Stinger, since both weapons are fired based on the same faulty intelligence. Maybe we should try winning hearts and minds with something other than missiles and bombs?

[Jackpine Radical]

7. I know one simple act that would win the hearts & minds

of the majority of Afghans.

We could leave.

[Catherina]

4. We have so much money to kill people but none for house or feed our homeless? Rec'd n/t

[Jackpine Radical]

6. Any idea how much old-fashioned arty cost per round?

Like 105's, 155's, 8", etc. I imagine those big 16" Navy gun rounds were already pretty expensive.

[Angleae]

9. About $300 for a 155mm shell.

8" and larger are no longer in use (not to mention no one has made a 16" shell since WWII).

[unhappycamper]

10. IIRC, the old, unguided 155 mm round cost around $300. n/t

[Gravel Democrat]

8. ^^

Total Cost of Wars Since 2001
$1,107,669,249,799



Cost of War in Iraq
$742,244,566,948



Cost of War in Afghanistan
$365,424,682,850


If you count to 5 the Gov just spent $10,000 (ten thousand dollars in 5 seconds, every single 5 seconds there is another $10 k and it just goes on and on and on while the people are being hosed)