via Defense Tech...
About fucking time. I guess someone finally woke up to the fact that 4 Typhoons just wasn't going to cut it (of which 2 are probably operational --- if they're doing strip alerts that must be murder---maybe we should count pilots in addition to aircraft)!Dauntless will set sail for the Falkland Islands in the coming weeks armed with a battery of missiles that could “take out all of South America’s fighter aircraft let alone Argentina’s,” according to one Navy source.The Type 45 destroyer is the most advanced anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic ship in the world equipped with 48 Sea Viper missiles and the Sampson radar, which is more advanced than Heathrow air traffic controlThe ship is in a league of its own in air defence able to track dozens of multiple targets“It can shoot down Argentine fighters as soon as they take off from they bases,” said another Navy source. “This will give Buenos Aires serious pause for thought.”
Sol,
ReplyDeleteThat article you've quoted felt a bit amateurish, apart from the poor grammar in parts, they've got some facts wrong. First, the T45 is not currently ABM capable. The French and Italians are developing an ABM Aster missile but it isn't operational and wouldn't fit into the currently fitted VLS cells, although space has been provided for future additions. The Sampson radar is theoretically capable too, but would require software modifications.
The ship couldn't engage targets as they took off either, they'd have to be about halfway to the islands based on Aster 30's max. range. Sounds like a lot of bragging going on, even if this is currently the most advanced air warfare vessel in the world.
Just to clarify this is a routine deployment too, replacing a T23 frigate I believe. We always have a major vessel on rotation down their as part of Atlantic Patrol (South). But it is good to remind the Argentinians why armed force wouldn't be a great move. We may have lost carrier strike for now, but our frigates and destroyers learnt their painful lesson 30 years ago and could now do a lot more damage to the same planes that were sent against them in the last war.
agree on most parts but my understanding is that the T45 is capable of fitting SM-6's which are ABM capable.
DeleteOh forgot to mention that 3 of the Typhoons are kept ready at all times and the 4th is held at a lower readiness state in reserve (that aircraft is nicknamed "desperation").
ReplyDeleteTheir is also a large number of Rapier systems and shoulder launched units ready for use if necessary.
"armed with a battery of missiles that could “take out all of South America’s fighter aircraft let alone Argentina’s,”"...."equipped with 48 Sea Viper missiles "
ReplyDeleteWell, unless south america has downgraded to 48 aircraft, I dont think Dauntless is going to win that one....
"The ship couldn't engage targets as they took off either, they'd have to be about halfway to the islands based on Aster 30's max. range."
I suppose that depends where the Destroyer is at the time.
20 miles off their coast, it has a lot of overland coverage.
I was thinking more that it would be sat just off the coast of the Falklands.
ReplyDeletei'm pretty sure it'll be in a patrol pattern ... the Argies have old subs but quiet ones so they'll probably treat it like a wartime patrol and not be predictable.
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