"Peter Stickney" wrote in message
...
In article ,

In this case, I don't think so. The warheads on the newer MANPADS
aren't any bigger, or, on the whole, much more differntly designed
than the ones you'll find on the SA-7/Redeye/Blowpipe. Where they're
more sopisticated is getting that warhead into proximity fuze range,
so that it goes off. In this case, the warhead went off. (There was
a case last summer involving an El Al jet where they didn't.)
Terminal effects are going to be the same.
The better ECCM adn guidance laws built into an SA-14, say, aren't
going to improve your Pk against a slow, unagile, and unaware target
like the DHL Airbus. You don't need that extra 10% for that kind of
target.

The Shorts ManPADS family that started with Blowpipe is one where there
was significant improvement in the warhead. The Blowpipe had a
combination blast and shaped charge warhead so that it also had a ground
target capability for self defence. With Javelin GL and S-15 (Starburst),
the change was made to a blast warhead without the compromise of a shaped
charge. The latest, Starstreak, actually has three kinetic energy
projectiles that are launched from the main stage and which fly in
formation.

That said, I think Shorts missiles could be voted among the least likely
to find their way into terrorist hands, even if they are the ManPADS
systems most capable of bringing down large airliners (well, RBS-70 is,
but it's an even greater pain in the arse to lug about); the training
bill is just too high.
--
Andrew Chaplin
SIT MIHI GLADIUS SICUT SANCTO MARTINO
(If you're going to e-mail me, you'll have to get "yourfinger." out.)