Juergen Nieveler wrote:
wrote:
Or is the Navy really worried about Sub-launched SAM's?
The answer to both questions is probably "yes."
Why? So far nobody has fielded a sub-launched SAM system, and given the
difficulties found in the experiments (mast mounted blowpipe, for
example), it's unlikely that anybody is going to try again in the near
future.
Well, this is mostly unconfirmed, but there were rumors to the effect
that Russian Kilo-class boats (but only the actual Russian ones, not
the ones sold to India, China and Iran) have a few SA-N-8 Gremlin
(Strela) or SA-N-9 Gauntlet (Kinzhal/Klinok) missiles mounted in the
sail, for defense when they're forced to surface. This probably makes
more sense for diesel boats than nuclear ones, though. More likely they
carry Gremlin than Gauntlet, if anything at all - Gauntlet isn't a huge
missile, but it's not tiny either - see the size of the SA-N-9 VLS on
Udaloy, Neustrashimy or Kuznetsov. On the other hand, it does have the
advantage of being designed for vertical launch. Strela is normally a
MANPADS.
Juergen Nieveler
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Don't hit me, Mr. Moderator... I'll go back on topic... I swear!