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Aviation History
1985
1985 - 0350.PDF
WORLD MISSILE DIRECTORY tracker is of an improved pattern, and will be retro fitted with a Barr and Stroud thermal-imaging chan nel based on Class 2 Thermal Imaging Common Modules (TICM). British Aerospace Laserfire Laserfire is a private- venture pallet-mounted Rapier variant offering around 85 per cent of the performance of the current Towed Rapier at a much lower cost —probably around 60 per cent. The pallet may be carried into action aboard a medium-sized truck, or mounted on the ground close to high-value targets. Weighing only 2 tons, it may be positioned by heavy- lift helicopters. Mobility trials and system evaluation testing have been completed, and firing trials have begun. BAeD decided that, during the likely lifetime of the system, attacks could be anticipated at night only in good weather, so no attempt was made to incorporate Blindfire capability. The electronics are based on a MIL STD 1553B databus, the system computer being a BAeD design based on the architecture of the Ferranti Argus M700. Built-in test facilities have included, eliminating the need for field test equip ment. The surveillance radar is a joint BAe/Racal millimetre-wave design. Maximum surveillance range is 10km—slightly less than the 12km typical of the larger surveillance radar in Towed Rapier. The signa ture of the new radar has been minimised to reduce the chances of the signal being intercepted. Targets detected by radar are then engaged by the laser tracker, which is based on a Ferranti Type 629 high repetition rate neodymium-YAG laser. Bearing and range data is then available to the system computer. Laserfire's two-man crew—commander and operator—-are housed in an air-conditioned cabin located on the mounting. In an emergency the system may be operated by one man. The operator's display incorporates two cathode-ray tubes (CRTs). The left- hand screen displays target data, while the right-hand unit shows the imagery from a TV sensor boresighted to the tracker. The latter may be used to identify the target visually. There is no IFF in the standard Laserfire, although this may be provided as an optional extra. If tactical circumstances do not permit the use of the surveillance radar, the vehicle commander may direct the tracker towards visually-acquired targets, using a simple mechanical sight built into the cabin window. The engagement sequence is completely automatic. The only action which the operator needs to take is to press the firing button. The joystick control is not used to track the target—the guidance method employed by Towed Rapier—but for pre-engagement tasks such as the setting up of no-fire zones. British Aerospace Sea Dart The basic GWS30 version of Sea Dart destroyed seven enemy aircraft during combat in the South Atlantic, and forced the Argentinian attackers to operate at very low levels which allowed engagement by other systems and created problems with bomb fuzing. The experience gained highlighted areas of possible improvement to the system. The Type 42 destroyer Coventry downed two of four attacking Seahawks before falling victim to a third; reports in the tech nical press claim that the magazine blast doors had to be operated by hand owing to a fault. Other reported problems include massive sea clutter owing to sea states higher than those specified in the orig inal requirement. Modifications to the system are under study or in hand, says the MoD. Lightweight Sea Dart is suitable for installation in ships as small as 300 tons. The system on offer consists of a fixed launcher with containerised rounds, a Marconi 805SD tracking-illuminating radar, and a new fire-control console. The first customer was China, which placed a short-lived order for equipment to be installed on Luda-class destroyers. Two vessels due to have been modernised in the UK would have received 805SD radar trackers and Sea Dart launch boxes (the use of standard Sea Dart trainable launchers was considered), with a further six vessels being reworked in Chinese yards. The project has now been abandoned. BAe Dynamics has offered land-based derivatives of Sea Dart since the late 1970s, most recently as a potential air-defence system for the Falkland Islands. The original Land Dart proposal involved the use of the twin-rail naval launcher, but the Guardian system offered for the Falklands service was based on the fixed launcher and 805SD radars of the Lightweight Sea Dart system. By "borrowing" equipment earmarked for the Royal Navy, BAeD planned to deliver an interim half-sized firing battery within 16 weeks of a go-ahead. Operator: Royal Navy (Type 42 destroyers, a single type 82 destroyer and Invincible-class carriers), Argentina (two Type 42 destroyers). British Aerospace Seawolf The basic "double-ended" GWS25 version of Seawolf is opera tional aboard Broadsword-class frigates (Type 22), while at least three of the Broad-beamed Leanders have been reworked with the six-round GWS25 launcher mounted just ahead of the Exocet system, and the Marconi Radar Type 910 tracker located just aft of the bridge. On November 24, 1983, the Type 22 frigate Bril liant shot down an Exocet missile launched from an over-the-horizon firing location by the modified broad-beamed Leander-class frigate Jupiter against a target barge moored in Cardigan Bay. Brilliant engaged the Exocet with a single round fired in TV mode. Interception range was more than two miles and, had the round missed, at least one more engage ment could have been attempted in the time avail able. Lightweight Seawolf uses either the Marconi 805SW or Signaal VM40 radar tracker, plus two-, four-, or six-barrelled launchers, and can be installed in vessels down to 500 tonnes in displacement. A round had been fired from a converted four-round Seacat launcher. When the Type 22 frigates are refitted, these ships will receive the lightweight Marconi ST805SW radar tracker. British Aerospace Vertical-Launch Seawolf The planned Type 23 frigates will be fitted with Vertical-Launch Seawolf, a system currently the subject of a £250 million development and production contract placed by the UK MoD. A Type 23 model displayed at the 1983 Royal Navy Equipment Exhibition showed 32 individual missile silos in a single housing located ahead of the ship's super structure, but this arrangement of four rows of eight rounds cannot be taken as definitive, since the pattern of launcher to be used has not yet been selected. Two patterns of vertical launcher are being considered—an all-UK design from IMI or a Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering proposal based on the Martin-Marietta vertical-launch system devised for the US Navy. Vertical launch requires the addition of a rocket booster, plus some modifications to the basic Seawolf round. A new electronics pack making extensive use of the latest integrated-circuit technology replaces the existing assembly, while a separation unit provides the interface between the missile and its booster. The round is equipped with an inertial refer ence unit which provides the attitude and motion data needed to carry out a turnover manoeuvre to bring the missile on to its correct flightpath as soon as it has cleared the ship's superstructure. British Aerospace Landwolf A land-based version of Seawolf has been proposed as an all-weather point- defence system. This would use the Marconi 805SW radar, a suitable air-surveillance radar, plus either four-barrel trainable launchers or the missile and launcher of the Vertical-Launch Seawolf. Shorts Seacat Three versions of Seacat were used in the South Atlantic. These ranged from the simple optical version to the fully-integrated installation with radar-guidance. Eight "kills" and two "probables" are claimed by the Royal Navy. The most recent variant to be reported is an anti-radar missile, the end product of a joint Shorts/BAe Dynamics design collaboration. No details have been officially released, and it is not known whether the seeker is optimised for use against airborne or ship-mounted radars. Operators Royal Navy (Leander-, Tribal-, Type 12 and Type 21-class frigates), Australia (6 River-class frigates), Brazil (1 Sumner-class destroyer, 6 Niteroi- class frigates), Chile (1 Type 42 destroyer, 2 Almirante- and 1 Leander-class frigates), India (4 Leander-class frigates). Iran (1 Battle-class destroyer, 4 SAAM-class frigates), Libya, Malaysia (1 frigate), Netherlands (6 Leander-class frigates), New Zealand (2 Leander- and 2 Rothsay-class frig ates), Nigeria (2 Mk9 corvettes), Pakistan (1 County- class cruiser), Sweden, Thailand (1 frigate), Venezuela, West Germany. Shorts Tigercat This basic point-defence missile remains in production. The Mk2 version, incorpo rating lightweight components and solid-state elec tronics, has been ordered by an unspecified overseas customer. Operators UK (RAF Regiment), Argentina, India, Iran, Qatar, South Africa (ex-Jordanian systems), Zambia. Shorts Blowpipe Despite rough handling, Blowpipe performed well in the Falklands, even against high speed crossing targets, accounting for the nine Argentinian aircraft plus two "probables". In addi tion to the basic man-portable version, other variants offered by Shorts include multi-round pedestal launchers, an installation for the Spartan APC, and a helicopter-mounted variant. Pedestal launchers for land and sea use are desig nated Lightweight Multiple Launcher and Naval Lightweight Multiple Launcher respectively—de signations are usually abbreviated to LML and LML(N). LML comes in three versions—man-portable systems with seated or standing aimers, and an AFV installation consisting of a turret ring with integral hatch cover and pintle for mounting of the traverse head. In all versions the traverse head carries a standard Blowpipe aiming unit plus three ready-to- fire rounds in standard launcher/containers. For transportation, the traverse head of the 38kg man- portable version is locked at zero elevation and carried by means of a built-in handle. The tripod and vertical support tube form a second load, while the aimer's seat and its attachment arm form a third. The AFV version may be fitted over the existing hatch-opening on armoured personnel carriers such as the FMC M113, Cadillac Gage V150, GKN Sankey FS100, and the Saviem 4x4, and includes an integral hatch cover, and a new turret ring with a pintle able to accept the traverse head. The navalised LML(N) mountings are intended for use primarily in vessels at anchor or in sheltered waters. Independent of the ship's own power supplies, the LML(N) is offered in variants with free-standing or seated operators. Cossor Electronics has designed its own IFF 880L for use with the LML and LML(N). Self-powered from an easily-replace battery, this 201b system oper ates as a separate add-on unit rather than an integral part of the missile system, and thus requires no modification to the weapon. The transmitter/ receiver/processor unit is attached by clips to the support leg of the LML, while the antenna is moun ted on the top surface of the elevating head. The control switch fits on the normal LML operating handle. On sighting a target the operator pushes the control switch, and the 880L indicates Friend or Foe status by means of audio tones. Other tones are used for self-test purposes. Operators (Mkl) UK, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Malawi, Nigeria, Oman, Portugal, Thai land. One further customer has not yet been identi fied. 58 FLIGHT International, 2 February 1985
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