As Technology advances progressively updated and more advanced systems were introduced in each area, like civil or defense use. We have seen both positive and adverse effects on humanity.
Despite so much development, we have also
created such advanced weapon systems to maintain our sovereignty and sometimes
use them as a defense shield to protect our citizens.
A barrage of rockets fired by Hamas and
Palestinian security forces according to the recent crisis between Israel,
Hamas and Palestinians. Several photos and videos about the rescue of the
airspace by the Israeli missile defense system have gone viral on social media.
As per sources it has been revealed that
Israel has used their most advanced Iron Dome Missile Defense System as a
shield to defend Israeli airspace from a barrage of rockets propelled during
airstrikes.
What is Missile defense systems?
As aggressive weapon systems are introduced,
anti-weapon systems have also evolved. A missile defense system is a type of
missile defense intended to protect a country from incoming missiles, such as
intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) or other ballistic missiles.
The USA, France, Russia, India, UK, Israel,
Italy, Russia and China have all developed missile defense systems. And other
many smaller countries claim to be close to developing their own Missile
defense systems.
Type of Missile defense systems
Ballistic Missile System
Ballistic missiles are a perfect combination
of three essential components: a propulsion system that is powered by rockets
initially, which provides the energy to reach the target.
A guidance system, parabolic, free-falling
trajectory toward their targets which contains steering of the missile during
powered flight and ensures the correct initial conditions for the ballistic
trajectory and the payload which destroys the target.
They are classified by the maximum distance
that they can travel, how powerful the missile’s engines (rockets) are and the
weight of the missile’s payload, or warhead.
Classifications of ballistic missiles:
Close-Range Ballistic Missile (CBRM)-
traveling range 50-300 km
Short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM)-
traveling range 300-1000 km
Medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBM) -
traveling range 1000-3000 km
Intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBM)-
traveling range 3000-5500 km
Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) -
traveling range than 5,500 KM
Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) -
Depend type of rang
Air Launched Ballistic Missile (ALBM) - Depend
type of rang
Short- and medium-range ballistic missiles are
referred to as “theatre” ballistic missiles, whereas ICBMs or long-range
ballistic missiles are described as “strategic” ballistic missiles.
Other Types of Missiles
A Cruise missile is a guided missile used
against terrestrial targets that are propelled by jet engines and can be
launched from land-, air-, or sea-based platforms. They are
remains in the atmosphere and flies the major
portion of its flight path at approximately constant speed.
Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a
large warhead over long distances with high precision due to their constant
propellants, they are more maneuverable than ballistic missiles.
Hypersonic missiles travel up to eight times
the speed of sound with a range of 1,000 miles, A hypersonic boost-glide
vehicle (HGV) is fired by rockets into space and then released to fly to its
target along the upper atmosphere.
The second type of a Hypersonic cruise missile
is powered through its entire flight by advanced rocket booster or high-speed
jet engines. It is a faster version of existing cruise missiles.
Supersonic – A supersonic missile exceeds the
speed of sound (Mach 1) but is not faster than Mach-3. Most supersonic missiles
travel at a speed between Mach-2 and Mach-3, which is up to 2,300 mph.
How Missile defense systems work
A missile defense system contains space-based
satellites, ground radar systems and sea-based radars all collectively create
monitoring systems that contribute to offensive missile detection (detecting a
missile after it has been launched).
Such tracking keeps the missile “in sight” so
that an interceptor can find it and eliminate the threat. Interceptor missiles
consist of a three-stage booster rocket (meaning three engines are used in
succession), and a “kill vehicle,” which travels alone after the last booster
separates.
Using intercept data, the kill vehicle is
guided toward an intercept point, where it views the target using its own
sensors. From there, using small thrusters to adjust its direction, the
interceptor attempts to track and collide with the incoming warhead.
Missile defense systems commonly used equipment and components
Radars:
X-Band Radars - (1) Sea-based X-Band Radar (2)
Army Navy (AN) Transportable Radar Surveillance (AN/TPY 2)
COBRA DANE Radar
Upgraded Early Warning Radars (UEWR)
Army Navy (AN) SPY-1 Radar
Air- and Space-Based Sensors Used:
Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS)
and Space Tracking and Surveillance System-Demonstrators (STSS-D) constellation
operated by the Missile Defense Agency
Space-based Kill Assessment (SKA) hosted on
commercial satellites
Near Field Infrared Experiment (NFIRE)
technology
SBIRS-LEO (Low Earth Orbit),
Interceptors:
Ground-Based Interceptors (GBI), for the GMD
System
SM-2, SM-3 (RIM-161 Standard Missile-3)
3 variations: Block IA, Block IB, Block IIA
SM-6 (RIM 174 Standard Missile-6)
(Under Development) Boost Phase Laser Defenses
Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM), NATO
Interceptor
Space-Based Intercept (SBI) Layer
Kill Vehicles:
Exo-atmospheric kill vehicle (EKV)
Multi-Object Kill Vehicle (MOKV)
Command and Control Centers:
Command and Control, Battle Management, and
Communications (C2BMC)
GMD Fire Control and Communication, only for
the GMD System
Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle
Command System (IBCS)
Type of Missile defense systems
Iron Dome Air Defense Missile System
Iron Dome Air Defense Missile System is a
multi-mission mobile air defense system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense
Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries
It is a short-range, ground-to-air, air defense
system that includes a radar and Tamir interceptor missiles that track and neutralize
any rockets or missiles.
The system has been developed to counter very
short range rockets and artillery & mortars (C-RAM) as well as aircraft,
helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Iron Dome Air Defense Missile System full unit
cost have $50 million per battery or $40,000 per missile The system is designed to intercept and
destroy short-range rockets
and artillery
shells fired from distances of 4 kilometers (2.5 mi) to 70 kilometers
S-400 Air Defense Missile System
The S-400 or SA-21 Growler is an air defense
missile system developed by Almaz Central Design Bureau of Russia. S-400 is the
advanced upgraded version of its successor the S-300P and S-200.
The S-400 is a surface-to-air missile system
that integrates a multifunction radar, autonomous detection and targeting
systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, launchers, and command and control center.
It is capable of firing three types of missiles to create a layered defense.
The system can engage all types of aerial
targets, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), aircraft and ballistic and
cruise missiles, within the range of 400km at an altitude of up to 30km.
S-400 is effective enough that it can be
deployed within five minutes and simultaneously engage 36 targets.
S-400 used an improved variant of the 48N6M
missile with a powerful propulsion system. The missile can destroy airborne
targets within the range of 250km.
However, the 40N6 missile of the S-400 has a
have range of 400km and uses active radar homing to intercept air targets at
even great distances.
Cost of the S-400 have approx. $300 million
per fire unit (artillery battalion) that consists of 9 launchers, 120 missiles,
command and support vehicles.
THAAD -Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Missile System
THAAD air defense missile system developed by
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space and another industrial team like Raytheon
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Missile
System is an easily transportable defensive weapon system to protect against
hostile incoming threats, such as tactical and theatre ballistic missiles, at
ranges of 200km and altitudes of up to 150km.
This system provides the upper tier of a
‘layered defensive shield’ to protect high-value strategic or tactical sites
such as airfields or populations centers.
The missile is 6.17m in length and is equipped
with a single stage solid fuel rocket motor with thrust vectoring. The rocket
motor is supplied by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. The launch weight is
900kg.
Conclusion
These are some basic details about Missile
defense systems readers can explore more about latest technology and in-depth
information through respective sources.
More and more advance technological development going on around the world and no new technology sustain to long time as their replacement will come soon due to innovation and technology enhancement.