Poentially need both, a dual-seeker set up is definitely going to be the future for such SAMs.
It depends on the size of the warhead needed to push the threat away using just a proximity fuse. But the speed of such missiles is so high that we need nothing short of a direct hit to defeat it. Astra class missiles have a 15Kg warhead, so that's okay, as long as it still hits it. Barak 8 otoh has a 60Kg warhead, I suppose Akash NG will be the same. So replacing with HTK will do wonders. Of course, it will need a new airframe design that makes use of the weight reduction that comes with it. There's no point in just changing the warhead on the same missile. Who knows, we might end up seeing something like the Cuda in such a role.
Not yet.
We were studying a dual seeker set up. Wonder what's going on there.
Maybe use a smaller but more advanced warhead ? The BMD missiles use the directional charge warhead. That could be an option.
Dunno about indigenous options, but Korea is offering it, with the K-SAAM.
Sure. That would also do. But the fragments can still hit. I suppose we won't know the exact details though.
Yes. But we were also studying one. Not sure if we were going to make it though.
Apparently DRDO lacked confidence in a HTKs in the early years of the BMD program so they employed a warhead. As seekers, radars & DRDO's confidence improved they gradually shifted to lighter & lighter warheads.
But the missiles were designed for a certain weight of warhead. Completely removing the warhead requires a significant redesign. DRDO thought might as well make completely new missiles. That's how the AD-1 &AD-2 were conceived. Thais is what I picked up. Who knows we may see a similar change in tactical SAMs too.
Tell me people, does China not have a BMD Shield in place? I find it hard to believe that the only countries having this highly strategic capability are the US, the Russians, the Israelis and of course... us(not being pessimistic). I remember reading some Chinese think-tank member say, "Can you believe it, India having this [BMD] and China not?"
@randomradio, @Gautam ?
@randomradio, @Gautam ?
I don't keep track of Chinese missiles really. They have that SAM they sold to Pakistan didn't they. Also they have S400 so there is that.
He was saying that they would also develop BMD.
Construction Of IAF's 'Desi' BMD Network Underway
Thursday, November 25, 2021
Following 16 years of software develpment and eight years of hardware development and engineerng with the help of Israel Aerospace Industries and TADIRAN, Phase-1 of of the Indian Air Force’s ballistic missile defence (BMD) network is now under construction under Project Swordfish, which encompasses the building of three L-band long-range tracking radar (LRTR) sites (near Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, near Jaipur, Rajasthan, and at an as-yet unidentified site in Uttarakhand)—all of which will be focussed along India’s western air-defence identification zone (ADIZ). Construction activities are slated for completion by mid-2023.
Separately, work will commence next year on the construction of 12 L-band High-Power Radar sites—eight facing the LAC and four facing the IB, WB and LoC.
In addition, the DRDO-owned LRDE laboratory is developing a C-band (UHF-band) high-power and wide-scanning active phased-array radar for use with the DRDO-developed XR-SAM long-range SAM, which will make use of Ka-band active RF seeker for terminal guidance.
Posted by Prasun K. Sengupta at 6:36 AM
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Construction Of IAF's 'Desi' BMD Network Underway
Thursday, November 25, 2021
Following 16 years of software develpment and eight years of hardware development and engineerng with the help of Israel Aerospace Industries and TADIRAN, Phase-1 of of the Indian Air Force’s ballistic missile defence (BMD) network is now under construction under Project Swordfish, which encompasses the building of three L-band long-range tracking radar (LRTR) sites (near Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, near Jaipur, Rajasthan, and at an as-yet unidentified site in Uttarakhand)—all of which will be focussed along India’s western air-defence identification zone (ADIZ). Construction activities are slated for completion by mid-2023.
View attachment 21944Under Phase-2, three additional LRTR sites will be built (with construction already commencing earlier ths year) to cater for the northern and northeastern portions of the IAF’s ADIZ.
Separately, work will commence next year on the construction of 12 L-band High-Power Radar sites—eight facing the LAC and four facing the IB, WB and LoC.
In addition, the DRDO-owned LRDE laboratory is developing a C-band (UHF-band) high-power and wide-scanning active phased-array radar for use with the DRDO-developed XR-SAM long-range SAM, which will make use of Ka-band active RF seeker for terminal guidance.
Posted by Prasun K. Sengupta at 6:36 AM
Where do the Very Long Range Tracking Radars (VLRTR) fit in this (in terms of intended use)?
Yes, based on rumours, they are deploying or have deployed a missile shield against India based on the SC-19 missile. It's meant to stop some of the Agni family. Their HQ-9, S-300 and S-400 have some ability to deal with SRBMs and some MRBMs as well.
For Agni III and higher, not much. It's still WIP. But we don't know where they are in this segment.
We are "ahead" in the BMD game at the operational level because our main nuclear threat is Pakistan, so it's a low end threat with a maximum range of 2500Km. Naturally we have limited to no hard kill capability against IRBMs at this point, and they are in the same boat. And even we have the SC-19 class weapon.
Very recently they have tested directional warhead where our decade old PAD already achieved this.
There's no way to say where they are at this point. Non-Chinese govts aren't speaking and the Chinese don't show off a lot.
I believe that since they are ahead of India in pretty much every segment, they are naturally ahead in BMD as well.
And since they don't believe a nuclear war with India is a possibility, they are just focusing on developing anti-ICBM capabilities instead, since that's the main threat they are facing.
Its huge probably SM 3 class.I don't think we will be able to Launch it from ship
SM-3 is not huge. its just 1.5ton similar sized to nirbhay.
Land-based BMDs do not have many weight or size restrictions. This definitely won't go on a ship.