American sea-based anti-aircraft guns
The solution of air defense and missile defense tasks in the US Navy is assigned to warships equipped with guided missile systems. weapons (URO) and combat information and control systems (CICS) of the Aegis type. These include primarily the URO Ticonderoga cruisers and the Arleigh Burke URO destroyers. To date, the Navy has 5 Ticonderoga-class cruisers and 67 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers of four modifications. At the same time, all the ships have been modernized and equipped with equipment and a software package for solving missile defense tasks.
It should be noted that the American fleet has both positive and negative experience in resolving issues of arming and re-equipping warships with air defense systems and missile defense systems. Its analysis makes it possible to more clearly understand the further actions of the US Navy leadership in this direction.
The Ticonderoga-class cruisers were the first US Navy ships to carry the Aegis CMS. Its main element is the AN / SPY-1A radar station with four fixed phased antenna arrays (PAR), capable of automatically detecting and tracking up to 1 air and surface targets within a radius of up to 000 km. To intercept the first, guided missiles of the Standard Missile family, equipped with an inertial autopilot, were intended.
The main advantage of the Aegis system is the ability to combine under common control all the combat systems of the ship, from universal gun mounts and air defense systems to long-range cruise missiles. In addition, Aegis provides the possibility of collective defense, allowing you to control the combat systems of a squad of ships from one command post.
UVP Mk-41 allows you to fire various types of missiles: cruise, anti-aircraft and anti-submarine. It can include up to eight modules of eight cells with launch containers. TPK of three sizes: Mk-13 - 209 inches (5,3 m) for the self-defense version, Mk-15 - 266 inches (6,8 m) for the tactical version and Mk-14/21 - 303 inches (7,7 m) for percussion version. The caliber of all TPKs is the same - 21 inches (533 mm).
Arleigh Burke-class URO destroyers have a balanced composition of weapons, which allows it to effectively counter air, underwater and surface enemies, as well as strike at coastal targets.
On the ships of the series (Flight I and II), the Mk-41 bow UVP consists of 32 cells, each of which can carry 1 UGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile, RIM-67 SM-2 SAM or RUM-139 VL-Asroc PLUR, or a block from 4 SAM "Sea Sparrow" vertical launch.
The aft UVP of the Flight I and II ships consists of 64 cells, and is also capable of carrying missiles (one per cell) in any combination, depending on the goals set - ensuring anti-submarine security, air defense or performing strikes against ground, including protected, targets cruise missiles UGM-109 Tomahawk with a range of up to 1 km. On the destroyers of the first two series, 600 cells of each launcher are used under a crane to reload installations, reducing the total number of cells available for missiles by 3 units. On destroyers of the IIA series, all 6 are used for missiles.
The RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) is a derivative of a design not adopted by the RIM-156 Standard SM-2ER Block IV A, retrofitted with a Mk 136 third-stage rocket engine (Advanced Solid Axial Starge, ASAS, manufactured by Alliant Techsystems) , GPS / INS guidance section (also called GAINS, inertial navigation system with GPS corrector) and LEAP kinetic warhead (light exoatmospheric projectile), the kinetic interceptor has its own engines for flight correction and a matrix cooled infrared seeker. Targets can be detected at ranges up to 300 km, and trajectory correction can be up to 3–5 km. The carrier ships will be updated with Aegis LEAP Intercept (ALI) computer software and hardware.
The missile is based on warships equipped with the Aegis system in the standard Mk-41 VLS universal launcher. The search and tracking of targets in the upper atmosphere and in outer space is provided by the AN / SPY-1 shipborne radar.
The first test launch of the SM-3 took place on September 24, 1999. Work on the modernization of the SM-3 began even before the start of testing and does not stop to the present. The main stages of modernization and future development of the rocket were designated SM-3 Block IA, SM-3 Block IB, SM-3 Block IIA, SM-3 Block IIB.
Raytheon has announced a contract with the US Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency to manufacture, test and supply 44 SM-3 IB interceptor missiles. The cost of the agreement is $466,9 million. The contract is the implementation of an annual option to the basic agreement signed with Raytheon worth $ 2,35 billion for the supply of missiles of the SM-3 Block 1B version during 2015-2018, which provided for the initial supply of 52 missiles and included three options.
The US Navy uses missiles in missile defense systems against short / medium-range ballistic missiles in the initial and mid-flight sections of their flight path. The SM-3 Block 1B maintains the reliability of the Block 1A version and is equipped with an improved dual-band infrared homing head, an improved processor, a new thrust and spatial orientation control system (TDACS) that allow you to increase controllability and hit targets with a direct strike with a kinetic warhead. The SM-3 Block 1B version is used both in missile defense systems, which are equipped with cruisers and destroyers of the US Navy, and in the ground-based missile defense system in Romania.
On July 31, 2019, the US State Department announced the issuance of a permit for the potential sale to Denmark of a batch of Standard SM-2 Block IIIA missiles along with additional equipment. The cost of the deal could be $152 million.
Denmark plans to receive up to 46 SM-2 Block IIIA missiles, two telemetry missiles, transport and launch containers, spare parts, training and logistics. The missiles will go into service with Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates, which have Mk-41 vertical launchers. The frigates are currently armed with RIM-162 ESSM anti-aircraft missiles. Thanks to the SM-2 Block IIIA, frigates will be able to increase the range of destruction of air targets up to 120 km. Until now, missiles of this type were in service with the fleets of such European countries as Spain, the Netherlands and Germany.
On October 26, 2019, a test launch of the new SM-3 Block IIA anti-missile was performed at the US Pacific Missile Range West of the coast of Hawaii (Pacific Missile Range Facility). The launch was made from the destroyer USS John Finn DDG-113 under the leadership of the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The target, simulating the BR, was successfully hit. Target detection and tracking was carried out by the AN / SPY-1 shipborne radar, which is part of the Aegis Baseline 9.C2 combat system.
First in stories a successful firing test of the SM-3 Block IIA took place in 2015, subsequent tests were not entirely successful. Thus, this is the second successful test of an anti-missile on a real target. The first comments from US officials point to an important milestone in this joint US-Japanese missile defense program. The SM-3 Block IIA is a costly combat asset.
In January of this year, a contract was signed for the purchase of four anti-missiles with the corresponding auxiliary equipment worth $133 million. Visually, the SM-3 Block IIA is easily distinguished from the Block IB by its significantly larger body diameter (21 inches instead of 13,5). This anti-missile is an effective means of intercepting medium-range ballistic missiles.
RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) is a medium-range ship-based missile designed and manufactured by Raytheon Corporation. The ESSM is designed to replace the ship's RIM-7E Sea Sparrow missiles, which can only partially fight modern naval missiles. Among the emerging threats were mainly Soviet developments in this area, supersonic anti-ship missiles SS-N-22 and SS-N-26.
The SM-6 missile has an extended range compared to previous SM-2 series missiles, is primarily capable of intercepting anti-ship missiles flying at high, medium and low altitudes, and can also intercept enemy ballistic missiles in the final part of the flight path. The SM-6 can also function as a high-speed anti-ship missile using its dual-mode seeker. Active radar seeker detects cruise missiles with EPR - 0,01-0,1 m2 against the background of ground objects, steadily selects them against the background of rugged terrain.
The SM-6 multi-purpose missile defense system was designed on the basis of the RIM-156A rocket airframe and main engine, the RIM-161A (SM-3) rocket booster unit and the AMRAAM air-to-air missile active radar seeker. Estimates of the range of the SM-6 vary, according to officially published information, the range is 130 nautical miles (240 km), but the estimated range against surface targets can be more - from 200 nautical miles (370 km) to 250 (460 km).
The US Navy is adding GPS guidance to the SM-6 Block IA missile to be able to strike surface targets if necessary, but given its higher cost than other weapons such as the Tomahawk KR - $4,5 million vs. – $1,5 million, it is unlikely to be used as the main option.
On January 18, 2016, a modified SM-6 SAM was launched from the Mk-41 launcher of the USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53) missile destroyer at the US Pacific Missile Range off the coast of Hawaii and sank the retired USS Reuben James (FFG-57) class frigate Oliver Hazard Perry of 4 tons, demonstrating anti-ship strike capability over 200 nautical miles (200 km).
In February 2016, Ashton Carter (U.S. Secretary of Defense) confirmed that the Navy's entire arsenal of SM-6 missiles would be upgraded to serve as anti-ship weapons.
On January 17, 2018, the US Navy approved plans to develop the RIM-174 Block IB (SM-6), which will be powered by a larger 72-inch Mk-21 booster rocket engine in place of the previous 103-inch Mk-13,5 and correspondingly more thrust. The new version will significantly increase the range and speed of the missile, providing the possibility of hypersonic speed on the main part of the trajectory and an increased flight range.
The Navy is preparing a new variant of the Standard Missile 6 missile for combat by conducting test firing of a new weapon built using updated software that allows it to perform a range of functions, including not only combating air targets and protecting against ballistic missiles at the final section of the flight path, but also the possibility of combating surface targets.
The Navy successfully completed four flight tests of the SM-6 (Block I) off the coast of Hawaii between April 6 and 13, 2019. Testing is a key step in creating new capabilities for existing weapons. Ready weapons for warships.
“I am very proud of my team for planning and executing this flight test, which is the culmination of a disciplined systems engineering effort. These latest flight test successes once again demonstrate the versatility of the SM-6 Block I.”
- said at a press conference organized by the main headquarters of the US Navy, Captain Michael Ladner, general director of the program for surface weapons.
These tests are being conducted as part of a joint missile defense agency/navy test program that simultaneously fired two SM-6 Block I missiles in a 1-second salvo at a single target ballistic missile to evaluate effectiveness against medium-sized ballistic missile threats. range at the final stage of the flight.
Using "active radar seeker" technology, two SM-6 missiles were able to simultaneously track and destroy a single target, greatly increasing the probability of hitting a target.
“Now you have absolute certainty that the missile will hit the target, no matter what the threat does. If the target changes course or makes some strange maneuver, and the first missile cannot detect and hit it, the second missile will work.
Raytheon SM-6 chief designer Mike Campisi told Warrior Scout magazine.
A statement from the Missile Defense Agency described how the Navy destroyer “fired a salvo of two SM-6 Dual I missiles at a difficult target, an intermediate-range ballistic missile, demonstrating a successful atmospheric interception of a ballistic target.”
This technology is built into the SM-6 missile using software updates. "Active radar seeker" gives the missile the best opportunities to attack actively maneuvering airborne aerodynamic and ballistic targets, as well as mobile sea surface and targets, because it does not depend on the ship's radar and does not require target illumination in order to direct the UR to the reflected from the target signal for a simple "semi-active" seeker. Development of a new method of attacking a target with two missiles with an active radar seeker by spreading the missiles in azimuth at an angle of 30 ° and reprogramming the inertial system and GPS grid in such a way that the missiles follow a parallel course, and missile No. 1 does not fall into the field of view of the seeker of missile No. 2 thus avoiding the "fratricide" effect.
This is a technology that allows the ship's commander to fire multiple SM-6 missiles at a high rate of fire in case the target is to be attacked by more than one missile.
“The ship can illuminate the target or communicate with the missile – and at the same time, the missile also looks at the target. In a purely active mode, it can go by itself,”
Campisi explained.
Now the SM-6 "active search" technology allows the missile to use its own built-in search technology for navigation without the need for target illumination with an electromagnetic pulse from the carrier ship.
“We had two missiles in the air, and we wanted to make sure that we were actually tracking the target and seeing the target and not another missile that was in the air. All simulations have shown that the missile will never see and aim at another airborne missile #2, but it's nice to get proof in a practical launch.
Compared to the SM-3, the SM-6 shipborne interceptor is designed to track and destroy threats at low altitudes, such as a ballistic missile in the "terminal" phase of flight to the target. More recently, these weapons have been developed for a number of new "offensive" missions, including attacks on ground targets and enemy ships, or defensive interceptions against anti-ship missiles flying at ultra-low altitudes.
The SM-6 is also capable of air defense - attacking or destroying enemy helicopters, Drones and other upcoming threats. Currently, these weapons are considered defensive, offensive and capable of performing three different tasks: they are ground warfare, air warfare and missile defense.
Compared to the SM-3, the SM-6 shipborne interceptor is designed to track and destroy threats at low altitudes, such as a ballistic missile in the "terminal" phase of flight to the target. More recently, these weapons have been developed for a number of new "offensive" missions, including attacks on ground targets and enemy ships, or defensive interceptions against anti-ship missiles flying at ultra-low altitudes.
The SM-6 is also capable of air defense - attacking or destroying enemy helicopters, Drones and other upcoming threats. Currently, these weapons are considered defensive, offensive and capable of performing three different tasks: they are ground warfare, air warfare and missile defense.
“Now you have the possibility of multiple missions for one missile. This means that this missile can be placed on any ship at any time and have the same capability in all three sets of missions, independent of hardware or anything.”
Campisi says.
Campisi also emphasizes:
“…a rapidly changing threat environment means that the advancement of new strategic offensive and defensive technologies is essential for the US to maintain its advantage over potential competitors. At the same time, the modernization of Russian and Chinese missiles will in no way affect American weapons developers.”
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