WARHEADS, propulsion, guidance Flashcards
blast warheads
initial blast produces heat overpressure, followed by suction under pressure. ex: SLAM-ER, TLAM, Harpoon, Torpedo
underwater blast
warhead detonates beneath hull, steam bubble expands and lifts hull which weakens keel, steam bubble collapses and breaks keel
fragmentation warheads
blast energy is transferred to casing fragments. Nearly 30% of the energy released during detonation fragments the warhead. fragments propelled at very high velocities. allows for targeting inaccuracies
blast fragmentation examples
Advanced medium range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM), Standard Missile (SM-2,3,6), rolling Airframe Missile (RAM), Sidewinder (AIM-9), Sea Sparrow (RIM-7), Evolved Sea Sparrow (RIM-162)
NATO sea sparrow missile (RIM-7)
radar -guided surface-to-air missile. self-defense against anti-ship cruise missiles. semi-active homing missile. annular blast fragmentation. used on CVN and LHA/LHD
rolling air-frame missile (RAM) (RIM-116)
lightweight, quick reaction, fire and forget point-defense missile designed to destroy. surface to air missiles, blast fragmentation warhead. passive radio frequency, infrared homing or infrared only.
Platforms: CVN, LHA/LHD, LCS
shaped charged warheads
used against hardened targets (armored vehicles). detonation collapses the metal cone liner at the apex. Ejecting a continuous high velocity solid jet of metal weakening the metal target. slug then penetrates the weakend armor
hellfire missile
laser guided, air-to-ground significant antitank, anti-structure/bunker capacity. Air-to-air helos, slow fixed-wing aircraft
Platforms: MH-60R/S
special purpose warheads
thermal warheads, biological & checmical warheads
nuclear warheads
Trident II
launching systems requirements
speed, reliability, safety, compatability
types of launchers
Gravity, impulse, reaction
gravity launchers
gravity delivers weapon to target, used on slower airborne platforms
impulse launchers
gun-type launchers, propellant powder launches weapon or projectile. 5” MK-45 gun, Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)
CIWS (MK-15)
last line of defense missile, good against anti-ship missiles. rapid fire 20mm 4500 rounds per minute. Platforms: CVN, CG, DDG-51, LHA/LHD, LPD,LSD
MK-45 caliber gun (5”)
shipboard gun mount, surface, air and shore-based targets. platforms: CG(fore and aft) DDG-51 (fwd)
MK-110 caliber gun (57mm)
shipboard gun mount, high rates of fire with extreme accuracy, surface, airborne, and shore-based targets.
Platforms: LCS (both variants)
impulse launchers
uses high pressure gases from a compressed air supply. ensures the weapon safely clears the delivery vehicle ex: MK- 32 SVTT
reaction launchers (canister)
launch rail/tube and storage container in one. Ex: VLS, Harpoon, ASROC, NATO BOX LAUNCHER, ABL (tomahawk)
MK-41 (VLS) vertical launching system
below deck missiles, missiles in tube called all-up rounds (AUR). launches SM-2,SM-3,SM-6, ESSM, tomahawk land attack missile (TLAM), anti-submarine rocket (ASROC)
platforms: CG, DDG, DDG 1000
Zero length launchers
MK-26, MK-13, all aircraft missiles
phases of guidance
boost phase, midcourse phase, terminal phase
boost phase
weapon receives launch signal and launches, gets weapon up to speed, weapon reaches cruising altitude, receives target info
midcourse phase
not all weapons have midcourse, weapon closes on target, often the longest in time and range
terminal phase
must have high degree of accuracy, requires max maneuverability, evasive maneuverability
guidance control
homing guidance, command guidance, self contained guidance
homing guidance
active, semi-active, passive. RF, IR, LASER, sound, visible light
active homing
weapon contains transmitter and receiver, target echo travels same path as transmitted energy, use most often in terminal phase. Ex: Harpoon, AMRAAM
semi-active homing
target “illuminated” by a tracking radar, weapon equipped with receiver only. Ex: Hellfire, SM-2,SM-3, SM-6, Sea Sparrow, Evolved Sea Sparrow
Passive Homing
target is sole source of tracking energy. weapon generates its own correction. reduces counter-detection. susceptible to decoy r deception Ex: sidewinder, HARM, RAM, Torpedo
Command Guidance
outside guidance, embedded receiver, receives instructions from ships, aircraft, ground stations. wire or radar, examples: MK-48, SLAM-ER
Self-Contained Guidance systems
fixed target weapons, preset, flight path is predetermined, inserted in weapon before launch. Navigational guidance systems: inertial, terrestrial, GPS
