Indranil wrote:I don't think the 37C would simulate a Brahmos, unless the latter is being used at its near maximum range of 800+ km.
They are interested more in the Chinese and Russian systems than the Brahmos per say but the 37C as I had said, flies a different trajectory and is used to stress the ship (or land) based defenses in other ways. It is not used for the same purpose of simulating a sea skimming cruise missile target, but one that is high supersonic but in the cruise phase of its flight and some low end TBM profiles. Hence two separate supersonic target programs are maintained by the same program office. the 37C has an advantage in that it can more easily and cheaply
deploy during multi-national exercises as well but its replacement is now on the cards since stocks are running out. If one looks at the new solicitation, they don't really want to replace the 37C but essentially create an air-launched Coyote capable of sea-skimming and stressing terminal maneuvers:
Indranil wrote:But being able to carry the brahmos or the 1.5 ton brahmos mini (NG) will greatly add to the teeth. The P-8s can hang more than 120 kms away from their targets. I am sure IN would want it. But will this India specific modifications be made remains to be seen. Will work in favor of F-18s for IN.
This will be tougher and more expensive since Brahmos is unlikely to be used by any of the other operator base for the aircraft and given the fact that the MOD/IN decided to buy the P-8 as opposed to also joining the program and getting a seat on the table at the Joint Program office as Australia has done and others are looking to do (Norway). Both of those nations have or intend of having their specific weapons brought in in the next couple of block increments which are charted by the JPO. Partners get priority as far as capability and weapons integration is concerned. The MOD/IN would have to work outside the JPO model, directly with Boeing on an integration and flight test program but that will have to wait for a long time. It is best to have a mature and operational weapon rather than do concurrent development and integration with a third party system.
ArjunPandit wrote:A noob pooch, but can a direct hit from CIWS protect or minimize the effect of a supersonic missile?
It will be a last resort and would not be something you can count on each and every time. But they are experimenting now with
command guided rounds (for other applications but the technology is relevant to this role as well) as well so that could potentially make the overall system more effective in the future.
chetak wrote:
the question is can the missile actually "swerve" at mach 3.5.?? and still regain the track to the ship?? How far out would it get displaced on each "swerve"??
Swerve would be at or near the terminal stage to avoid the point defenses of the ship. The USN required the GQN-163A to be able to pull 5G vertical, and 12G lateral @ Mach 2.6 during the terminal maneuvers and something similar has been shown off by China (videos) on some of their sea skimming missiles as well. The sudden announcement from the USN to ask for Chaff and Flare dispensers to be mounted on the 163A probably signals that some of their threat systems may be headed that way in the near term.