Photo: Israel – American exercise reaches its peak with actual Patriot launchings November 12, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in : weapons , add a commentIt was dubbed “the most advanced combat lab in the world for active defense”.
Indeed, it’s an exercise which simulates a wide variety of missile attacks on Israel and the interception of those threats by means of PAC-2 16 Patriot missiles.
Actual launchings are quite rare. Missiles cost a lot, you need dummy targets to hit and reserve wide chunks of airspace to the activity. Hence these rare opportunities to engage enemy planes and barriages of missiles are extremely important to refine tactics and validate weapon systems.
Both the older and the latest versions of the Patriot advanced systems will practice interceptions.
Alongside the Israeli, an American Patriot division has deployed to Israel for the drills.
“In an advanced simulation, all the operational missile interception systems were grouped together: Israeli and American Patriot batteries, the “Arrow” system, Iron Dome and AEGIS ships. In addition, an American Patriot battalion back in the U.S participated in the simulation from afar and even practiced alongside the Israeli forces,” says the press release published on the Israeli Air Force website.
In case of attack on Iran a subsequent rain of missile in retaliation is expected. Better be prepared for it.
Image credit: IAF
Boeing tests badass missile that can knock out computers, electrical systems with a high-powered microwave pulse October 25, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in : weapons , add a commentOn Oct. 16, 2012, at 10.32 am MST, a missile made history cruising fast over the desert at the Utah Test and Training Range.
Known as CHAMP, Counter-electronics High-powered Advanced Missile Project, the adveniristic weapon may one day change modern warfare fought by troops, aircraft increasingly dependent on electronic and data systems: it can hit a target with a high-powered microwave pulse capable to defeat electronic targets with little or no collateral damage.
Hence, a weapon that does not kill nor cause harm to people. At least not directly.
CHAMP missile’s test target was a two story building: the first burst of High Power Microwaves caused inside rows of personal computers and electrical systems to turn on as a consequence of the powerful radio waves that hit them. Moments later the monitors were knocked out, demonstrating that both the PCs and the electrical systems had been successfully hit without collateral damage.
According to Boeing Phantom Works, seven targets were hit using CHAMP’s high power microwaves in the one-hour test that degraded and defeated the electronics inside the test buildings.
Even if the artistic impression above shows a B-2 as the launch platform for the CHAMP, the Boeing video shows technical people working around an Air Force B-52 strategic bomber, probably used for the testing phase and Oct. 16 launch.
Pakistan Test fires Stealth Cruise missile with 700 km range September 17, 2012
Posted by Richard Clements in : weapons , 5commentsThe Pakistan Inter Service Public relations department released a Press Release on Sept. 17. Sept that announced that Pakistan has test fired a Stealth Cruise missile.
Here’s what is said:
“Pakistan today conducted a successful test fire of the indigenously developed multi tube Cruise Missile Hatf-VII (Babur), having a range of 700 kilometres. Babur Cruise missile is a low flying, terrain hugging missile, which can strike targets both on land and at sea with pin point accuracy. It carries stealth features. Equipped with modern cruise missile technology of Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM) and Digital Scene Matching and Area -Co-relation (DSMAC), it can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads. The Missile was launched form a state of the art Multi Tube launch Vehicle (MLV), which significantly enhances the targeting and deployment options of Barbur Weapon system.
The test was witnessed by Director General Strategic Plans Division Lieutenant General (R) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, Chairman National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM) Mr Muhammad Irfan Burney, senior officers from the armed forces and strategic organisations. In todays test National Command Authority’s fully automated Strategic Command and Control Support Sytem (SCCSS) was once again employed. It enables robust Command and Control capability of all strategic assets with round the clock situational awareness in a digitalized network centric environment to decision makers and Nation Command Centre (NCC). The system has the added capability of real time remote monitoring of missile flight path. The test consolidates and strengthens Pakistan’s deterrence and National Security.
The successful test has also been warmly appreciated by the President, Prime Minister of Pakistan and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, who have congratulated the scientists and engineers on their outstanding success.”
The new stealth missile, possibly a game changing weapon in the area, after testing phase, will be deployed firstly with the Pakistani Navy prior to it making its debut into front line Army units.
Richard Clements for the Aviationist.com
Image credit: via Pakistan Military Review
Video shows Syrian Mil Mi-25 gunship releasing flares. A sign that rebels got their hands on MANPADS? August 17, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in : Syria , 5commentsThe following video, shows a Mil Mi-25 Hind gunship releasing flares during a mission over Talbiseh, Syria on Aug. 15.
Flares are high-temperature heat sources ejected from the aircraft’s dispensers to mislead the missile’s heat-seeking targeting system: since the burn temperature is hotter than that at the engine’s exhaust the burning flares attract and decoy heat-seeking missiles fired at the aircraft.
Since this kind of countermeasure is used against IR (Infra-Red) air-to-air and surface-to-air missile, the fact that an Assad chopper has released flares during a flight might be a sign it was locked by a MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defense System) in the hands of the rebels.
Lately, Syrian regime helicopters have mainly operated at high altitude most probably because of the threat of anti-aircraft artillery fire (a Mig-23BN was gunned down at low/medium altitude) and MANPADS.
H/T to Damien Spleeters for the heads-up
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North Korea's failed missile launch: a Korean Airlines A330 over East China Sea (temporarily) on the projected flight path April 13, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in : North Korea , 1 comment so farThe news that has confirmed the launch of the Unha-3 rocket was announced by South Korea’s YTN television network around 22.52GMT.
As soon as the news spread, I checked Planefinder.net to see if there was any aircraft (using ADS-B) along the missile’s projected flight path and found a Korean Air KAL8658 overflying the East China Sea at 580MPH and FL390.
I took the following screenshot with a certain concern….
However, shortly after the launch was announced, U.S. officials said that the missile was believed to have crashed into the sea 90 seconds into flight.
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