Look Out you P3 Drivers!
 

http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism...6-115918-3750r

I hope we can get this before the US Navy does! :up:

With the level of technology the navy has these days, it's almost as if it was taken out of a video game or something.


:rotfl:

Patch upload for DW! :rock:

I'd love to outfit my Seawolf SSN with a couple of these babies. I may have been able to destroy that IL-38 instead of just run from it. :cool:

Sea Demon

We need to be equiped with the pheonix missile! With ze uber pheonix missil, ve vil dominate ze skies! Ze submarine ist a crucial step towards air superiority.

I can tell you from recent game experience that a sub vs P3 dive is like bringing a knife to gun fight. :arrgh!: Surfacing to use a shoulder launched SAM is an effort in futility. Not that it can't be done with some help (from another aerial platform on your side) and a lot of practice. It's just not IMHO a realistic option for a sub.

Read the article. It talks about launching an AIM-9X without surfacing. The missile's guidance system would find the target and guide the missile to the target autonomously. In shallow water ops, sounds like it could be pretty useful in a crunch.

Sea Demon

I'm loving it. They said vertical launch though....that doesn't sound very useful as a practical matter. The SSGNs could carry it no problem, but using it in a LA or VA would take up space in the VLS that the sub really can't afford to be without...I'm assuming the reason its in shallow water and is worried about air attack is because its going to be firing TLAMs...

Now if we can encapsulate them are fire them out a torpedo tube...then we've got a practical weapon. Targeting I still see as a problem. It's going to be very hard to spot an aircraft and tell it from friend or foe with the photonics and ESM masts. And there's still the problem of the risks going that shallow pose to the sub when there's aircraft about. On the other hand, if you're getting pinged and you know the hammer's about to drop, this weapon could save the boat, and it's a lot more sensible than a sail-fired Stinger.

http://www.thoseshirts.com/images/model-noche-LE375.jpg

I love America. :rock:

Why would such a weapon need to be fired out of existing VLS/Torpedo tubes? According to fas.org, the AIM-9 only has a diameter of 5 inches... That works out to be 127mm, so they could easily be put into small VLS tubes (sail mounted perhaps?)

Of course, another option would be to give up one or two of the VLS tubes on the 688/Virginia and launch them from cells mounted inside of the tubes... I figure you could get 4-5 of them in per VLS tube. With two tubes you are potentaially looking at 10 SAMs... Something no sane helo pilot is going to try his/her luck against...

I did read it! :up: That's why I said it would be great if we could get this in game to even up the odds a little bit in a sub vs p3 battle. As far as the encapsulation that ML mentions seems like that shouldn't be a problem. If we can encapsulate a Trident we should certainly be able to do the same for an Aim9. :cool:

I recall reading about a sail mounted system in a novel some months ago. Sorry can't remember the title......

This has further applications, imagine a picket line of subs hidden underwater, and they launch Radar guided AA missiles (as a Sub Surface to Air Missile) guided by a DDG or CG miles away from it (or for that matter a E-2). If it works with Sidewinders, it would certainly work with radar guided weapons if they had guidence from another platform.

France had a project to use MICA IR missile encapsuled in the Exocet torpedo launching system, the both system are existing, now there is to make the integration and test.
I will post some photo of the system after work.

While compromising the ability of the sub to carry out its mission....

Sail mounting might be reasonable if the modifications needed to do it are cheap and easy. A weapon that could be adapted to the current launchers would be more practical.