Re: PLAN Carrier Operations..News, Videos & Photos
For the sake of the discussion (posts of which need to be moved, #moderators), I think we sould assume DF-21D is what most believe it to be.
I see no reason why DF-21D could not manouver in the terminal stage, the most modern ICBMs and IRBMs seem to have that capability as a way to counter ABM if I'm not mistaken, among chaff and other decoys?
Assuming DF-21D is all it's said to be -- well if we're able to guide missiles onto an incoming ballistic missile it will not be a massive challenge to keep the beam of a laser on a similar target. The challenge for an anti AshBM laser shoudn't be whether the FCR can handle it or not, but rather whether the laser is powerful enough to take it down, never mind whether the turret can be designed to point near vertical.
Most defensive laser concepts at the moment are for ciws, to take out small boats or cruise missiles. A counter AShBM will need a bit more power at the speed and altitude it's coming in at methinks. Though as you mentioned, AShBM will have terminal guidance. Lasers could well act as a soft kill system by screwing with said guidace.
Its ability to alter a ballistic trajectory in terminal mode will be very limited. On top of that, there has been no observed live test over the ocean against a manueverabvle target...so we are not really sure 1) if it can do terminal guidance as claimed, or 2) If the system is at any stage of operation or deployment.
Time will tell.
My guess is that the ability to manuever will be very limited...and the laser, particularluy if it catches it while in reentry mode, will have the time to do its work.
As I say...time will tell. Right now we have a tested and deployed AEGIS BMD (on at least 5 cruisers and 16 destroyers as of late 2010) and a live fire tested laser. The DF-21D has no known operational tests at all.
But, for future carriers and capitol ships, like the PLAN carrier, the ability to successfully defend your vessel with lasers will be a huge step forward.
For the sake of the discussion (posts of which need to be moved, #moderators), I think we sould assume DF-21D is what most believe it to be.
I see no reason why DF-21D could not manouver in the terminal stage, the most modern ICBMs and IRBMs seem to have that capability as a way to counter ABM if I'm not mistaken, among chaff and other decoys?
Lasers would definitely provide a faster response than ABMs, but I am still at a loss as to how it will be able to intercept a terminally guided warhead. Normal ABMs use pre calculated intercept points, which assumes constant trajectory for the warhead. The DF-21D has a terminally guided warhead, which can alter trajectory.
The laser system would have to have a very fast fire control computer.
Assuming DF-21D is all it's said to be -- well if we're able to guide missiles onto an incoming ballistic missile it will not be a massive challenge to keep the beam of a laser on a similar target. The challenge for an anti AshBM laser shoudn't be whether the FCR can handle it or not, but rather whether the laser is powerful enough to take it down, never mind whether the turret can be designed to point near vertical.
Most defensive laser concepts at the moment are for ciws, to take out small boats or cruise missiles. A counter AShBM will need a bit more power at the speed and altitude it's coming in at methinks. Though as you mentioned, AShBM will have terminal guidance. Lasers could well act as a soft kill system by screwing with said guidace.