The M1200 Armored Knight is a precision targeting US military

Military

A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...

 vehicle. Most of the Knights are used for operations in Iraq

Iraq

Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....

. The M1200 entered service in 2008.

Design

These are wheeled armored vehicles, designed using the M1117 Guardian ASV as the base, that carry the equipment needed to quickly bring in guided bombs, missiles and shells. According to the Strategy Page website; "The M1200 contains a laser designator, a laser range finder and GPS, plus radios and computers that take target position data and transmit it to distant artillery units, or bombers overhead, and get the firepower on the target within minutes. Previously, all this gear was mounted on an unarmored hummer." The armored knight evolved from the desire to provide enhanced protection to FiSTers who perform the targeting mission in high threat environments.

Development

The Knight was developed to in an effort to offer an armored vehicle capable of keeping up with COLT's (Combat Observation Lasing Teams).

The previous FiST-V(Fire Support Team-Vehicle) employed by the COLT's was the M707 Knight(a stripped-down variant of the Hummvee).

Specifications

• Standard Crew: Three
• Combat Loaded Weight: Approximately 15 tons
• Maximum Speed: 63 Mph
• Cruising Range: 440 Miles
• Target Location Accuracy: 1 Meter

Components

• FS3 Mounted Sensor
• Targeting Station Control Panel
• Mission Processor Unit
• Inertial Navigation Unit
• Global Positioning System Receiver
• Power Distribution Unit
• Stand Alone Computer Unit

External links

• http://www.drs.com/products/m1200knight.aspx
• http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/wsh2007/42.pdf
• http://cannonartillery.com/guns_and_ammo/observation_fire_direction/M1200_Armored_Knight.cfm
• http://www.textronmarineandland.com/products/land/asv_armored_knight.htm