Raytheon RIM-161 SM-3 News & Development

Scott Kenny said:
My image for the "new orbital ASAT" is a pop-down attack pattern. ASAT gets placed in a slightly higher orbit so that the collision energy is all aimed towards earth.
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If your opponent has hundreds of satellites, which is exactly what the U.S. is doing in the next several years, you can not just kill satellites: you have to destroy entire orbital planes. And you have to accept what the other side does to you.
 
Josh_TN said:
If your opponent has hundreds of satellites, which is exactly what the U.S. is doing in the next several years, you can not just kill satellites: you have to destroy entire orbital planes. And you have to accept what the other side does to you.
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Yes, Starlink etc constellations need that much force.

And you just pissed off everyone else who was using that orbital plane, turning them against you.
 
Forest Green said:
www.twz.com

More SM-3 Interceptors Needed After Downing Iranian Ballistic Missiles: Navy Secretary

After SM-3 successfully engaged Iranian ballistic missiles, the Navy Secretary says more are needed than the dozen per year currently planned.
www.twz.com www.twz.com
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Well, yeah. 12 per year or so is enough to build up a stockpile if you never shoot any.

But now you have idiots making you use them up. Probably need to go to about 48 a year, so you can use up 24-36 a year and still build up the stockpile.
 
NMaude said:
That would make sense if it's a fixed installation and not a mobile launcher.
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Josh_TN said:
What is interesting is that it seems some kind of new land based mk41 was used, not mk70.
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The Mk70 is a mobile containerized Mk41.
thedefensepost.com

US Navy Tests Sea-Based Containerized Missile Launcher

The US Navy test-fired a Standard Missile-6 missile from a containerized launch system aboard a littoral combat ship.
thedefensepost.com thedefensepost.com
www.twz.com

Navy Unveils Truck-Mounted SM-6 Missile Launcher In European Test (Updated)

A recent Navy demonstration in Europe reflects growing interest in new ground-based long-range missile capabilities across the US military.
www.twz.com www.twz.com
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And it looks very similar to the photo on the test link:
1733910581502.png
 
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Forest Green said:
Huh, turns out the launcher isn't in that photo, it's a new tilting version of the Mk41:
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Comments on TWZ point out that this is not actually new. It's similar or the same as a launcher at the Pacific Missile Range Facility that has been there for years. It's a range safety issue, probably to make sure any destruct during flyout drops debris in an acceptable spot.
 
Forest Green said:
Huh, turns out the launcher isn't in that photo, it's a new tilting version of the Mk41:

www.twz.com

Tilting Mark 41 Launcher Emerges During Guam's First Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test

The test that saw an SM-3 swat down target is a big step forward for the massive air defense system being installed on the island.
www.twz.com www.twz.com


View attachment 751978
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Those two legs jacking it up at the back don't seem to be hydraulically activated - judging from the pic in TWZ's article header they're fixed length, and hinged to a plate set in the concrete pad. So getting it back to the vertical for loading may not be a quick process - you may be able to use the loading crane to unload the legs, letting someone get in there and disconnect them, and there do seem to be possible lifting lugs about a foot below the upper railings.
 
DWG said:
Those two legs jacking it up at the back don't seem to be hydraulically activated - judging from the pic in TWZ's article header they're fixed length, and hinged to a plate set in the concrete pad. So getting it back to the vertical for loading may not be a quick process - you may be able to use the loading crane to unload the legs, letting someone get in there and disconnect them, and there do seem to be possible lifting lugs about a foot below the upper railings.
Click to expand...

If it is indeed a test apparatus for range safety issues, it probably is not representative of an actual deployed system. Per TomS post, it seems like a test apparatus, and I would guess mk70 was still the intended operational deployment method.
 
DWG said:
Those two legs jacking it up at the back don't seem to be hydraulically activated - judging from the pic in TWZ's article header they're fixed length, and hinged to a plate set in the concrete pad. So getting it back to the vertical for loading may not be a quick process - you may be able to use the loading crane to unload the legs, letting someone get in there and disconnect them, and there do seem to be possible lifting lugs about a foot below the upper railings.
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Something yellow seems to be pulling it down from the front, that might just be the angle though.

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DWG said:
Even if those were Mk 70s, I doubt you wouldn't want them going off so close to the golfball!
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True, I realised that after posting. :)
 
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Oh yeah, my eyes aren't working today, not well anyway, and my brain isn't far behind.

I wonder if it will actually improve range slightly as well as increasing safety wrt mishap launches.
 
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DWG said:
Those two legs jacking it up at the back don't seem to be hydraulically activated - judging from the pic in TWZ's article header they're fixed length, and hinged to a plate set in the concrete pad. So getting it back to the vertical for loading may not be a quick process - you may be able to use the loading crane to unload the legs, letting someone get in there and disconnect them, and there do seem to be possible lifting lugs about a foot below the upper railings.
Click to expand...
Frankly, I suspect that this whole setup is experimental proof-of-concept, and jury-rigged from available details, so it's kinda pointless to make assumption "how it would work". Likely it would be significantly redesigned before actual deployment.
 
NMaude said:
So one of these L3Harris products?
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www.l3harris.com

Aerojet Rocketdyne Successfully Hot Fires Large Solid Rocket Motor to Power Missile Defense Agency's Next Generation MRBM Target

Aerojet Rocketdyne has successfully completed the qualification static fire test of the eSR-19, the advanced large solid rocket motor that will power the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) next generation Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) target used to test our nation's missile defense systems.
www.l3harris.com www.l3harris.com
 

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