How Air Defense Missile System intercepts rockets

Iron-Dome-Air-Defense-Missile-System
 

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.


Air-Defense-Missile-System

 

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.

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