Aegis Ships to get PAC-3 Missiles?

Re: Aegis Ships to get PAC-3 Missiles?

feeds@yuku.com (drunknsubmrnr) — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:21:08 GMT

I wouldn't put much stock in that report. Decoys and MIRV's aren't a problem now.

Kevin

Re: Aegis Ships to get PAC-3 Missiles?

feeds@yuku.com (westwords2020) — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:40:47 GMT

I read a CRS report that had the Block 2A version which would be the full diameter Standard could be equipped with multiple independant kill vehicles to counter decoys and multiple independant reentry vehicles.

Re: Aegis Ships to get PAC-3 Missiles?

feeds@yuku.com (drunknsubmrnr) — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:55:01 GMT

Wow. That slide certainly illustrates the trade-offs THAAD had to make to achieve endo- and exo-atmospheric intercepts. I had no idea it was that bad.

In their defence, I don't think anyones planning to use THAAD for boost phase intercept. It appears to be more of a completely defensive system at Theater level.

Kevin

Re: Aegis Ships to get PAC-3 Missiles?

feeds@yuku.com (taschoene) — Tue, 06 May 2008 23:55:33 GMT

Nightwatch2 wrote:

that's correct. Likewise the SM-3 is not in the same class as the THAAD but a bit more reach than the PAC-3.

Actually, SM-3 beats THAAD handily in its preferred environment of mid-course exo-atmospheric interception. Either one has more "reach" than PAC-3, which is a pure terminal-phase interceptor (like SM-2 Block IVA), designed to take out inbound missiles at the very end...

Re: Aegis Ships to get PAC-3 Missiles?

feeds@yuku.com (taschoene) — Tue, 06 May 2008 23:39:13 GMT

LEAP (Lightweight Exo-Atmspheric Projectile) is the kill vehicle on SM-3, but otherwise you're correct -- SM-2 Block IVA was the "lower-tier" supplement to the SM-3 "upper tier" interceptor. Together they would have covered the whole flight envelope, roughly analogous to Patriot PAC-3 and THAAD.

The difference is that SM-3 is a pure exo-atmospheric interceptor and is optimized for the role. THAAD, on the other hand, has a mix of low exo-atmopspheric and high...

Re: Aegis Ships to get PAC-3 Missiles?

feeds@yuku.com (drunknsubmrnr) — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:53:18 GMT

More like SM-3 has trouble with endo-atmospheric interceptions. It's endo-atmospheric "partner" was supposed to be SM-2 Block IVa LEAP, which was cancelled a few years ago. Now they're going with PAC-3 for the lower-tier intercepts.

The satellite interception was done by modifying the SM-3 exo-atmospheric kill vehicle for a higher altitude interception.

Kevin

Re: Aegis Ships to get PAC-3 Missiles?

feeds@yuku.com (BenRoethig) — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:47:37 GMT

That missile was modified for that job.

Re: Aegis Ships to get PAC-3 Missiles?

feeds@yuku.com (bager1968) — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:36:41 GMT

So the SM-3 can't do exo-atmospheric intercepts, eh? Someone should tell NASA, so they can find what really downed that failing satellite, then.

Re: Aegis Ships to get PAC-3 Missiles?

feeds@yuku.com (Nightwatch2) — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:49:48 GMT

drunknsubmrnr wrote:
From what I've heard PAC-3 is more of a point defence system. THAAD is area-capable in both endo- and exo-atmospheric interceptions.

Kevin

that's correct. Likewise the SM-3 is not in the same class as the THAAD but a bit more reach than the PAC-3.

Re: Aegis Ships to get PAC-3 Missiles?

feeds@yuku.com (drunknsubmrnr) — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:20:00 GMT

From what I've heard PAC-3 is more of a point defence system. THAAD is area-capable in both endo- and exo-atmospheric interceptions.

Kevin

Re: Aegis Ships to get PAC-3 Missiles?

feeds@yuku.com (jua) — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:11:43 GMT

That seems weird...Surely THAAD was to be paired with PAC-3, so why would its footprint extend to endo-atmospheric? Outside of a checkered testing history I was unaware that they system had any liabilities.

Re: Aegis Ships to get PAC-3 Missiles?

feeds@yuku.com (taschoene) — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:24:32 GMT

What does THAAD bring that SM-3 doesn't already have? I know -- a smaller engagement window, a checkered test history, a flawed operational concept, and a large navalization bill. No thanks.

Sorry for the snark, but IMO, SM-3 does the exo-atmospheric regime far better than THAAD will (assuming it ever works consistently), while whatever gets picked for the Sea-Based Missile Segment Enhancement (SM-2 Block 6A or Navy PAC-3) should be better at endo-atmospheric intercepts....

Re: Aegis Ships to get PAC-3 Missiles?

feeds@yuku.com (Zenmastur) — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:42:10 GMT

...just like ESSM would make this a very attractive option.

I guess this means that the next addition would be THAAD. It fits diameter-wise, not sure about length though. Its EXTREME fly out speed and maneuverability would make it a natural!

Re: Aegis Ships to get PAC-3 Missiles?

feeds@yuku.com (Nightwatch2) — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:46:01 GMT

that makes more sense. But its still only a draft request for proposal.

so a long way yet before that is a done deal. Not to say that it couldn't happen, but I suspect an SM variant would have the inside track in any such competition. (granting the potential for a "preferred vendor" upset like the KC45 award)

should be interesting.

Re: Aegis Ships to get PAC-3 Missiles?

feeds@yuku.com (hoist40) — Thu, 01 May 2008 02:06:51 GMT

Aegis Ships To Get PAC-3 Missile

A draft request for proposals (RFP) could be released as soon as April for a new sea-based missile that would provide U.S. Navy combatant commanders with short- and medium-range tactical ballistic missile defense capabilities.

Lockheed Martin recently completed a year-long feasibility study commissioned by the Navy demonstrating the ability of its Patriot Advance Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missile to be...

Re: Aegis Ships to get PAC-3 Missiles?

feeds@yuku.com (Nightwatch2) — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:42:47 GMT

nope. someone is confusing the Patriot pac-3 with the Standard Missile 3. SM-3 is the shipboard ABM.

Aegis Ships to get PAC-3 Missiles?

feeds@yuku.com (Zenmastur) — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:39:32 GMT

Anyone know anything about this?

Regards,

Zen