THAAD Flight Test 10 Vid

August 25, 2009 · Posted in Missile, missile defense · Comment 

Lockheed Martin posted a good video explaining the last flight test and how the THAAD system works and figured it was worth a post.  This system along with PAC-3 Patriot system constitutes US terminal phase missile defense and is being fielded in at least battery strength by the 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade out of Fort Bliss, Texas.

This one got me looking/googling for any games or simulations that might have modeled the different phases of missile defense but came up empty. Anybody have a clue?

No D not Missile Command.

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Patrol boat mounted anti tank guided missiles

May 10, 2009 · Posted in ASuW, Littoral Warfare, Missile, Uncategorized · 7 Comments 

Nothing more exciting to think about than antitank guided missiles mounted on small agile patrol boats for that littoral fight. Particularly on a sportless Sunday morning! Remember to call Ma though, it’s Mother’s Day!

I’ve found three somewhat current examples of ATGM’s mounted on Patrol boats of which one seems truly operational. Check out these vids

Norwegian test of CB-90 mounted Hellfire.

 

Russian Mirage with Shturm/Ataka (4 minute mark shows the firing)

 

 

Finally, the operational Israeli Super Dvora III with Typhoon mounted Spike ER Missiles.

 

After watching these videos you get the sense that the key ingredient for these weapons to be effective at sea is they need to have good opticsdesignation and a stabilized mount.

In terms of modeling these weapon systems in simulation or game there a probably some things to think about.

  • What impact does smoke and other battlefield have on the chance of a hit? Land armies use chemical smoke extensively to mask their movements from ATGM sites. Could this translate to the littoral fight?
  • Within the context of a real brown water environment what are the likely obstructions based on the flight characteristics of guidance of the missile? Will SS Minnow find itself between missile and target. How different is SS Minnow’s profile compared to your average pirate mothership etc.
  • If the weapons are as precise as the videos make them out to be, isn’t the chance of a critical hit significantly higher if not almost a certainty particularly in the realm of little ship vs. big slow ship? How does this impact damage and critical hit models. Think about hits designated at the water line or critical areas like engine or bridge.
  • Do current ships defensive weapon systems have any reasonable chance to engage these weapons at all? If not an active defense such as phalanx or a navalized Arena is their an electronic defense?
  • In terms of a small patrol boat vs. small patrol boat fight is there a point where a target is too close and too fast to be a valid target, particular as gun warfare comes into play with boats trying to unmask various systems by aggressive maneuver?

Anyways just some thoughts….what do you think?

Bundy/Bostonmyk/MM

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