Page 237 - NAVAL SCIENCE 3 TEXTBOOK

N,WAL WEAPONS AND ,\IRCRAFT 243

because of arms control agreements negotiated with the Soviet
Union in the late 1970s. The Navy has developed an Am,,1 ver-
sion of the ship-launched Standard sl1l'l~lCe-to-,lir missile, to pro-
tect against future potential ballistic missile threats to the !leet and
to the United States m<.linland. It may also be used in the future
to provide protection to NATO countries imd other allies either in
addition to or in lieu of ground-based Am,,1 systems.
Although not originally designed to be an Am,,1 missile, the
Army's mobile Patriot missile system was extensively used to
knock down incoming Iraqi Scud missile warheads fired against
Israeli and Saudi Arabian targets during Operation Desert Storm
in 1991. It has been continuously improved since.
IVlodern military aircraft fly so high and last that conventional
A Tomahawk cruise missile. (Daniel McClain)
antiaircraft guns are inefiecti\'e against them. The surface-to-air
guided missile, however, can successfully intercept attacking air-
craft at great heights and ranges. Up to 10 miles. Point defense missiles and gun systems like Phalanx
Guided missiles have become the main weapon used in aerial
would be employed against any incoming aircraft or cruise mis-
combat. \Vhen two jet aircraft are approaching eelCh other head-
siles that got past these outer defenses.
on, the range can close at speeds in excess of a mile per second.
Protection against undCI'Wi.lter attack is afforded by weap-
Under these conditions, it is difficult even to see an approaching
ons stich as ASROC (antisubmarinc rocket) that delivers a hOI11-
enemy aircraft, and hitting it with gunfire under these conditions
ing torpedo to a water entry point in close proximity to a detected
would be just a matter of luck. But the air-to-air missile can "lock
enem}' submarine.
on" the hostile aircraft while it is still miles away and pursue and
hit it in spite of ilily evasive maneuvers.
The defense ofa naval force against air attack is somewhat sim- Navy Submarine-Launched
ilar to the detense of a city against air attack. The incoming enemy Ballistic Missiles
air attack would probably be detected by long-range search radar
Since the initial deployment of the Polaris A-I submarine-
and AE\V aircraft while still hundreds of miles away. The first line
launched ballistic missiles (range of 1,200 nautical miles) in 1960,
of defense would probably be interceptor fighter aircr,lft, which
both the SS13N submarines and the missiles they carry have steadily
would attack the enemy planes or cruise missiles with air-to-air
improved in operational capabilit)' and tlexibility. The u.s. fleet
missiles. A second line of defense might consist of long-range
ballistic submarine force, a major component of our nation's stra-
surface-to-air missiles fired by destroyers and cruisers, which can
tegic detense system, currently consists of tourteen Trident subma-
intercept an incoming target at ranges frolll 100 to 200 miles. A
rines, each of which can carry twenty-tour 4,OOO-nautical-mile-
third line of defense would be medium-range missiles designed to
range MIRV (multiple independently targeted reentry vehicle)
intercept between 40 to 90 miles, and antiaircraft gUllS with ranges

IllUMINATOR

IMAGING INFRARED SEEKER WDU· t 8/8 UNITARY WARHEAD

Cutaway drawing of a Tomahawk cruise missile.