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Military


Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS)
Dragon Fire/Dragon Fire II


The USMC had a number of critical performance parameters and other requirements for the system when it solicited bids for the EFSS program.

Key Performance Parameters
Transportability 110 nautical mile lift internal to CH-53E and MV-22 (threshold=objective)
Fire Range Unassisted indirect fire maximum range for standard high explosive projectile at least 7 km (threshold), 14 km (objective)
Range Error Achieve range error probable of 0.6% of range (threshold), 0.3% of range (objective) and a deflection error probable of 0.6% of range (threshold), 0.1% of range (objective) for high explosive at two-thirds of maximum range
Net Ready Data system should interface with specified DOD networks
Critical Requirements
Transportability and mobility
  • Unload time of 5 minutes (threshold) and 3 minutes (objective) for external lift

  • Embarkation time between 10 and 20 minutes (threshold) and between 5 and 10 minutes (objective) for internal lift

  • Debarkation time between 5 and 10 minutes (threshold) and between 3 and 5 minutes (objective) for internal lift

  • Ability to transport the crew, crew personal equipment, section equipment, and basic load of ammunition (threshold=objective)

  • Average off-road speed of 5 mph

  • Average unimproved road speed of 10 mph

  • Transportable by US C-130 aircraft and larger (threshold=objective) without disassembly or modification

  • Transportable by all US Navy amphibious ships, Military Sealift Command ships and contracted cargo ships (threshold=objective)
    		•
    Lethality
  • Capable of firing ordnance of 105mm in diameter or larger (threshold=objective)

  • Capable of firing a variety of specified existing ammunitions types

  • Maximum rate of fire of 4 rounds per minute (threshold) *, 16 rounds per minute (objective) for one minute for all specified ammunition types

  • Sustained rate of fire of 2 rounds per minute (threshold), 6 rounds per minute (objective) for all ammunition types
    		•
    Technical fire direction
  • Capable of determining ballistic solutions (threshold=objective)

  • Permit the crew to manually enter/edit all technical fire control data (threshold=objective)
    		•

    * - Following the contract award in November 2004, this was reduced to 2 rounds per minute. The discrepency was attributed to a typo in the requirements documentation.



    Following the contract award in November 2004, changes were made to designated non-critical requirements, including increasing the time allowed for some mortar events, an improved on road speed of 35 miles per hour, and a decrease in the basic ammunition loadout from 50-100 rounds to a total of 34 rounds. The initial loadout of between 50-100 rounds was described as a concept of employment and not an official requirement. Also, initially there was no requirement for armor protection. By 2008 the EFSS program was developing two levels of armor kit for the planned prime mover, a variant of the vehicle being developed for the Internally Transportable Vehicle Program.




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