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Subject: French DGA chooses Javelin over spike
FCUS    3/4/2010 11:26:31 AM
The french army is going to receive Javelin missiles for its troops in A-Stan (76 firing posts and 380 missiles) to replace the Milan. This procurement program will cost 70 m?. This decision was highly criticized: the army had wished for the israli Spike ER missile, but the DGA chose otherwise. I wasn't able to find sufficient data on internet to compare the 2: from what I understood, they are extremely similar. Can someone explain me why would the DGA choose the more expensive Javelin over the Spike ER (30 M? for the same amount of Spike fire posts and missiles). What are the difference between the 2?? I have the feeling that this decision is purely political (let's not upset our arab friends) Thank you for your answers and explanations
 
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FCUS       3/8/2010 6:36:51 AM
nobody can? *sigh*
 
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Hamilcar       3/13/2010 9:03:11 PM

nobody can? *sigh*

Spike was tested by the Indian Army. It failed its Thar Desert Weapon Test Range tests. I don't know exactly why. France is aware of these results. I do know that Javelin passed those Indian tests.
 
 
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Das Kardinal       3/14/2010 1:05:21 PM
Besides which Javelin sounds martial and "pokey" enough, while Spike is heavily connotated with bleached-hair emo vampires.

All right all right, the evils of growing up while TV aired Buffy the vampire slayer. 
 
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flamingknives       3/14/2010 5:42:03 PM
Javelin is substantially lighter , and combat proven with numerous armies. The Javelin CLU is also a superlative surveillance device.
 
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FCUS       3/16/2010 4:35:16 AM

Javelin is substantially lighter , and combat proven with numerous armies. The Javelin CLU is also a superlative surveillance device.



Thank you for yours answers.
 
About the CLU, isn't the Spike-MR/LR/ER CLU also reusable, and with integrated day/night sighting device?
 
I have another question about the Javelin. I also read about a Battery Coolant Unit (BCU). From what I understood, the missile acquires its target threw a "thermal seeker", which apparently cannot be used until the BCU cooled the system? How does that work? Was it a problem for the troops who used it in Iraq?
 
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