Defense against UAV's

wrote:
The situation is analogous to that posed by the first Russian anti-ship
missile, the Styx. It was around for years and no-one took much notice
until one sank an Israeli destroyer in 1967 - then the USN woke up to
the need for a short-range defence system, and Phalanx was the eventual
answer.

Is that installed on the ship in question?

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...hip/cvn-76.htm
USS RONALD REAGAN is equipped with Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM),
which replaces the Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) used on other
carriers. RAM Systems pack 21 fire and forget missiles capable of
destroying any high-speed incoming targets.

But how about low-speed incoming targets? Send in the Stringbags?

Better yet, assign each Carrier Strike Group an ESG for protection
against slow flying targets.

Why?

For the fighter aircraft that can hover in midair. VIFF 'em dead.

-HJC