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Originally Posted by Nexus7
hmmmm :hmm: ... but a successfull test! It was launched from periscope depth and shot down a drone helicopter. If it's operational or not, is hard to know i think.
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It wasn't even on the water, let alone under it - it was launched from an Army Chaparral system.
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Originally Posted by Driftwood
On another note I'd also like it if SCS would add the Virginia class boats to the "inventory." They're already out there.
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Can't you just use the Seawolf? There are Virginias, yes, but there aren't that many of them. Unless there is anything really different in "feel" about them over the Seawolfs and 688s, I'd prefer they do something else first.
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Originally Posted by Sub Sailor
I doubt that the US Navy Submarine Force is going to start hunting Aircraft.
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For some reason, I think Raytheon disagrees with you:
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Originally Posted by Brock McCaman
Successfully demonstrating the AIM-9X lock-on-after-launch mode from a vertical orientation launch is a major step toward providing our submariners with an unprecedented offensive and defensive capability
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or
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Originally Posted by Eldon Vita
This non-traditional launch of the AIM-9X provides the submarine force with an important element toward having the capability to strike enemy patrol aircraft, helicopters, and high speed patrol boats
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What really concerns me is that some idiot might just take these and similar sentences to heart. Which is bad. Besides, the AIM-9X has to either have to be modified w/ folding wings (possible developmental problem), or only 1 would fit in a Tomahawk VLS tube, which is not a very efficient deployment because w/ modern tech a much longer-legged antiair weapon could have been stuffed in such big tubes - say a 5.65m long 9M96E2 antiair missile with a 240mm diameter body, 480mm wingspan and 1-120km range w/ ARH. Now THAT would give you something close to an offensive ability. The US can probably modify a PAC-3 Patriot w/ a bigger booster (I understand they are doing this now) and cutting some warhead to get similar performance, and perhaps change to a IR seeking head.
A 10km range weapon with maybe a 3000m ceiling will do little more than deter MAD runs and force enemy MPA fly higher. They can either lob torps DW style or create a market for air-launched versions of 91RE ASW missiles (over 50km because of high altitude deployment). I can almost see the Russians smiling...