I raised this issue in the ‘new fighter for Georgia’ thread, but since it’s a missile question, I figure it might stand a better chance here in the missiles sub-forum! The basic premise would be to mount the NCADE on the currently proposed SL-AMRAAM system, possibly fitted with a suitable booster. It would likely be limited in range, but might be a low-end alternative/augment for the PAC-3. This would allow non Patriot units to at least have some ABM capability. Equally, it would allow a cheaper alternative for nations that either cannot get, or cannot easily afford the current Patriot system.
Does anyone know if this has been proposed/mooted, or even if its actually possible?
By: Distiller - 27th August 2008 at 11:24
If I should estimate the range, I’d put it at 100nm easily, when launched onto a ballistic flighpath from supersonic speed at high altitude. Not so optimistic about lower down and “straight” – maybe 30nm.
But it has no warhead. Would the seeker be good enough to aim for the cockpit? And talking of seeker. Not sure it has enough coolant to fully exploit the dynamic poltential of the missile.
New standard load-out for the F-22. Four AIM-120D, two AMRAAM-NCADEs, two AIM-9X.
By: sferrin - 27th August 2008 at 05:52
With a two-stage motor, I wonder how far that thing could go horizontally. A long-range AIM-9X wannabe would be an amusing complement to the Raptor’s RWR and EW suite.
And with that 2nd stage being liquid-fueled and throttleable combined with the solid-divert system that could make it all kinds of interesting in the end game. 😉
By: SOC - 27th August 2008 at 05:13
With a two-stage motor, I wonder how far that thing could go horizontally. A long-range AIM-9X wannabe would be an amusing complement to the Raptor’s RWR and EW suite.
By: sferrin - 27th August 2008 at 04:58
Here ya go:
By: SOC - 27th August 2008 at 04:57
Oh yeah. The back end of the second stage does look suspiciously like the front end of a Python 4.
By: sferrin - 27th August 2008 at 04:51
Is this it?
http://pvo.guns.ru/images/expo/eurosatory2008/DSCN1054_DCE.JPG
No. I think that’s related to Israel’s Iron Dome thing- “Stunner”.
By: SOC - 27th August 2008 at 04:39
Is this it?
http://pvo.guns.ru/images/expo/eurosatory2008/DSCN1054_DCE.JPG
By: Distiller - 19th August 2008 at 04:40
You’d have to bring it close enough to the launch position. It’s a boost phase interceptor, but not very hot, so it really relies on the plane to do the hard work.
By: sferrin - 18th August 2008 at 22:14
Fair enough, though it does seem a bit odd – if your country can get AIM-9X and AIM-120s, then logic would suggest NCADE shouldn’t be too much of a stretch. The question, I suppose, is what on Earth the NCADE is going to cost!
I think the upper stage is what would be the sensitive stuff. The number that comes to mind is a million a round. Last I heard a PAC-3 was about $3 million so. . .
By: EdLaw - 18th August 2008 at 21:56
I doubt NCADE would be exported to ANYBODY. The numbers they’ve been talking about even for the USAF is only 20. (Which makes you wonder why they even bother because if you need them at all you’re going to need more than 20.)
Fair enough, though it does seem a bit odd – if your country can get AIM-9X and AIM-120s, then logic would suggest NCADE shouldn’t be too much of a stretch. The question, I suppose, is what on Earth the NCADE is going to cost!
By: sferrin - 18th August 2008 at 21:35
I doubt NCADE would be exported to ANYBODY. The numbers they’ve been talking about even for the USAF is only 20. (Which makes you wonder why they even bother because if you need them at all you’re going to need more than 20.)
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August 18, 2008 at 9:20 pm