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By Geoff Fein
The Optically Designated Attack Munition (ODAM) developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) provides precision guidance to 60mm mortar rounds, making the munition more lethal and better suited for urban operations, according to a DARPA official.
Units on the ground don't use mortars in urban operations, said Douglas Kirkpatrick, program manager for ODAM. "Although they'd be ideal as a high angle of attack weapon, [mortars are] not accurate enough and the unintended consequences in close quarters are unacceptable."
The problem, Kirkpatrick said, is that when soldiers first hear the report of mortars being fired, everybody knows it's on its way, but they don't know where it's going. "The first one splashes down and everybody in that vicinity puts their heads down."
To hit a target with a mortar can take six to seven rounds. A good operator might be able to do it using three or four rounds. ODAM will give operators the capability so that now "the first shot out of the tube can hit the target,"...