But lets not forget the Mirage 2000N uses the ASMP stand-off cruise missile for the nuclear role. And it was never designed in the European context to be a deep striker, that I believe, was the old role of the much larger Mirage IV. The new ASMP-A will effectively double the range of the original ASMP at altitude; out to 500-600km.

PhantomII,

The ESSM is quite capable of engaging targets close in or out to it’s max range. And when I thought about an airborne equivalent of ESSM, I thought why? Current missiles – like the AIM-9X – can do the job just as well against close in targets. Now, when you talk BVR, again why would you need an ESSM equivalent? AMRAAM uses active seeker terminal guidance and is fire and forget, while the ESSM uses CW terminal guidance like the old AIM-7. But like I said the AMRAAM can also be used effectively against targets fairly close in, where it would go active almost from the moment of launch.

There is no airborne equivalent of ESSM.

The MK.IIF Night Fighter was fitted with Merlin XX. I wonder if No.2 is one of only two Merlin X powered original Mk.II prototypes, as there appears to be a clear lack of unit serials. Perhaps under going trials?

Although India purchased a ‘Green Pine’ radar from Elta in 2001 and has expressed interest in deploying its own battery of Arrow interceptor missiles, U.S. concerns regarding compliance with the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR, an international agreement limiting the proliferation of ballistic missile technology, have effectively halted such plans for the time being.

Eh? The ARROW is effectively a SAM system, albeit designed to shoot down ballistic missiles. Are they worried the Indians might turn the ARROW into an SSM? The Indians already has long range SSM programs. What is this MTCR concern with the ARROW?

Saw them in action on the news tonight. Greek security footage for the games.

The ESSM has been designed, as another evolution of the RIM-7 series, to better handle the new generation of high speed anti-ship missiles first and foremost. The quad pack fitting is brilliant too, gives you an amazing ripple fire effect if you have multiple inbound targets, provided the ship can handle all the tracks.

Isn’t max tactical/quiet speed 20 knots?

Probably Google, but I was saying that at 40kts the 2nd generation Papa class SSGN is probably going to make more noise than the SEA WOLF at the same speed.