US intends to get "antidote" from Russian missiles "Caliber"

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On September 24, the US Army signed a $ 237 million contract with the American firm Dynetics to create prototypes of the Enduring Shield short-range air defense system, designed to protect bases from cruise missiles and large drones, writes Forbes magazine.

Dynetics is located in Huntsville, Alabama and is owned by the American defense company Leidos. By March 2024, it should have delivered 16 launchers and 60 heat-guided AIM-9X Sidewinder interceptor missiles for testing, some of which should be provided by the end of 2023. If the military is satisfied with the results, they can order about 400 launchers and thousands of missiles for them.



The Enduring Shield air defense system should be suitable for movement by military transport aircraft C-5 and C-17, and also be able to protect an area of ​​6-12 square miles. Each launcher will have 20 interceptor missiles and is integrated with Sentinel AN / MPQ-64A3 or A4 short-range radars, providing 360-degree coverage. In addition, it must hit up to 9 targets in 15 seconds or less and have protection against electronic warfare and cyber attacks.

The contract went to Dynetics after shooting at White Sands Proving Grounds in New Mexico this summer. The competitor was the SkyHunter air defense system from the American Raytheon and the Israeli Rafael, created on the basis of the Iron Dome air defense system. They performed three launches each. Before that, the US military conducted tests of the Iron Dome, purchasing 6 launchers and 240 Tamir missiles (many thought that the missiles cost $ 40 thousand apiece, but the purchase documents indicated a price of $ 189 thousand per missile), after which they refused further purchases ...

The Iron Dome has demonstrated some capabilities against UAVs, cruise missiles and low-flying aircraft, but it was designed primarily as a system (C-RAM) to protect against unguided missiles, artillery and mortar attacks. At the same time, the Iron Dome turned out to be incompatible with the US Army IBCS network, and the Israeli Rafael refused to share the source code necessary to fix the problem.

- the newspaper reports, referring to the military.

The army really needs a short-range air defense system. It will protect more expensive long-range air defense systems from enemy attacks. For example, the American Patriots need protection no less than the high-quality Russian S-400s, which are guarded by the Pantsir-S air defense missile system. In addition, the US military intends to get an "antidote" from a whole family of Russian Kalibr cruise missiles.

The American AIM-9X Sidewinder missile (entered service in 2004) is the latest version of the iconic short-range air-to-air ammunition with extensive combat experience since the 1950s. It has a long-range infrared seeker and is also adapted for attacks on surface targets or, conversely, for launches from surface platforms. It can fly 23 miles at 2,5 times the speed of sound, but the ground launch option is likely to have inferior performance unless changes are made.

Sidewinder costs $ 400 thousand apiece, being more powerful, but also more expensive ammunition than the aforementioned Tamir and short-range surface-to-air missiles Stinger ($ 120 thousand apiece). The cost is high, but can be justified if the rocket has the required characteristics.

The Dynetics launcher retains the characteristics of the open MML architecture, which means it could potentially also integrate the cheaper Stinger and Tamir missiles. If this can be done at a reasonable cost, it will provide a way to increase the versatility and cost-effectiveness of the IFPC program against a broader range of threats.

- summed up the media.
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    1. +1
      3 October 2021 17: 03
      Well, this is unlikely to happen soon, but inventing an antidote for the mustache striped is like a serum for a cancerous tumor of the entire planet !!!
    2. +1
      11 November 2021 08: 21
      The caliber is not difficult to intercept. Difficult to detect but not intercept.