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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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