So... AIM-9?Now on to guided 5" zuni s, as part of modular scalable missile set.
So... AIM-9?Now on to guided 5" zuni s, as part of modular scalable missile set.
I think the next step would be to have a fast jet launched NGSR to fit somewhere in between APKWS and AIM-9.Now on to guided 5" zuni s, as part of modular scalable missile set.
CUDA? (I thought there was talk several years back about something even smaller to be used as self-defense against SAMs/AAMs?)I think the next step would be to have a fast jet launched NGSR to fit somewhere in between APKWS and AIM-9.
No the Stinger replacement..Since its going into production, it would be logical to arm rotary winged and even fixed winged aircraft for better performance, guidance and resistance to CM's.CUDA? (I thought there was talk several years back about something even smaller to be used as self-defense against SAMs/AAMs?)
I cannot imagine there’s a niche for something between APKWS and sidewinder. What is maneuverable enough yet cheap enough to fit that criteria?
No need to worry, such a version is already in extensive service in precisely that role!
No need to worry, such a version is already in extensive service in precisely that role!
Guided Zuni
APKWS is like $20-25,000…that’s a hard price point to beat. Where as Stinger I think is like 200,000 which makes it maybe 1/3 the cost of AIM-9. It doesn’t seem like there’s a target that warrants something only modestly cheaper than sidewinder.
NGSRI will be modern and is going to be cheaper to produce.
2,000 APKWS for Saudi Arabia.
Are Zunis still in production in the U.S.? I cannot remember the last time I saw a picture of one on a U.S. aircraft.
Laser Guided Zuni Rocket
The 5-inch (127 mm) Laser Guided Zuni Rocket is a precision weapon and an upgrade to the unguided Zuni rocket. The North American division of MBDA is the only manufacturer of the Laser Guided Zuni Rocket,[20] which is similar to the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System upgrade to the Hydra 70 system.[21]
Last I heard, the USMC FAC-As like to use them. With WP warheads.Are Zunis still in production in the U.S.? I cannot remember the last time I saw a picture of one on a U.S. aircraft.
The US just released the first-ever footage of its latest air-to-air weapon in action taking down a Houthi Drone over the Red Sea — and while this interceptor can already be launched by a long list of aircraft, what really makes it special is its price tag… because you could literally buy 19 of them for the price of a single Sidewinder missile.
Let's talk about the AGR-20 FALCO, also known as the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II.
Depends.Here's a question - since these rockets can also be used from the ground in an air defense role, as is the case in Ukraine, if four cruise missiles were headed in your direction, how many could realistically be taken down - two? I'm just curious.
I was thinking in terms of laser guidance. Sure, cruise missiles are usually pretty slow, but I don't think that you would be able to get all four in such a scenario. Could be wrong, though.Depends.
Do you need to keep a laser on them? Or are the APKWS using IIR? How much warning do you have? How fast are the cruise missiles? How fast are the APKWS?
Fast APKWS and slow targets, with lots of warning time and IIR? I'd bet you could take down all 4.
Do you need to keep a laser on them? Or are the APKWS using IIR? How much warning do you have? How fast are the cruise missiles? How fast are the APKWS?
I cannot imagine there’s a niche for something between APKWS and sidewinder. What is maneuverable enough yet cheap enough to fit that criteria?
The Canadian CRV-7 has much. much higher performance....and the factory could be purchased for peanuts right now....and you could screw an APKWS guidance section in just like Hydra
In September 2024 Canadian defence minister Bill Blair announced Canada would be sending 80,840 rocket motors to Ukraine over the next months, in addition to the 2,100 already shipped, along with 1,300 warheads.[4]
Oh, lord no. I'd be surprised if you could get 2 in that situation!I was thinking in terms of laser guidance. Sure, cruise missiles are usually pretty slow, but I don't think that you would be able to get all four in such a scenario. Could be wrong, though.
CRV7 has a much shorter range than Hydra 70, though. Yes, it's going faster, but the rocket burns out REALLY fast and it coasts the rest of the way.Or...you could use a better base rocket than Hydra 70. The Canadian CRV-7 has much. much higher performance....and the factory could be purchased for peanuts right now....and you could screw an APKWS guidance section in just like Hydra...the pods are also cleared on a fair few platforms like AH-64
As with land vehicles you would target all vehicles first, ripple fire the missiles and then switch the laser designator from one target to the next. Of course with IIR APKWS you don't need to.Oh, lord no. I'd be surprised if you could get 2 in that situation!
You'd need multiple laser illuminators. Which are kinda the expensive part of the whole system.
Problem is what happens to the rockets that aren't seeking at that moment.As with land vehicles you would target all vehicles first, ripple fire the missiles and then switch the laser designator from one target to the next. Of course with IIR APKWS you don't need to.
As with land vehicles you would target all vehicles first, ripple fire the missiles and then switch the laser designator from one target to the next. Of course with IIR APKWS you don't need to.
But as you said, with the IIR system you can fire-and-forget.
They would home on the missile that is targeted and assuming this is a point defence situation, the missiles would be travelling in a pack towards the target, so you would target the lead missiles first.Problem is what happens to the rockets that aren't seeking at that moment.
Someone get Doctor Evil on the line - we need those frickin' sharks with laser beams on their heads.Oh, lord no. I'd be surprised if you could get 2 in that situation!
You'd need multiple laser illuminators. Which are kinda the expensive part of the whole system.
Cruise missiles are doing roughly 1km every 3 seconds, and Hydra rockets are doing ~700m/s (2km/3sec).On a more serious note, I was thinking more along the lines of an ADATS-like system in terms of possibly taking down cruise missiles, so given that those interceptors have a maximum range of 10 km, if the detection range/time is sufficient, would it at least be theoretically possible to shoot down, well, two cruise missiles, or would that still be dicey, at best? Tbf, I wouldn't expect anything more than that, even in the best possible conditions.
It's still quite useful & cheap addition; basically as long as target required less than 8 AGR-20, it's more mass-efficient than a "proper" AAM.Launch more APKWS simultaneously to get your P(k) up high enough.
Okay, I guess you can get a 3rd cruise missile in that, and maybe a 4th. HOWEVER, I am ignoring "did we kill it" analysis time, laser slew time, and APKWS lock-on time in that analysis.
Could it down an attack helo? There's an interesting use.