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But a previously unreported intrusion into a Navy contractor's computer network has provided the Chinese military with information on the service's electronic warfare and threat library, cryptographic radio systems used on submarines, specific sensor data, and detailed information on a previously undisclosed and fast-paced initiative to field a supersonic anti-ship missile onto American nuclear submarines dubbed Sea Dragon.
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Yet the news that the Navy is rapidly looking to field a submarine-launched anti-ship missile capable of supersonic speeds is the biggest revelation from this report. Not only that but it is supposedly a weapon already in existence that is being adapted for submarine use. Quite honestly, in a vacuum, it's good news that the Navy is working on such a capability. Giving U.S. nuclear submarines long-range anti-ship capabilities that they can use while operating where no ship can is a critical ability that should be obtained, but what weapon could this be?
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This weapon could be one of a number of concepts we identify below. But to start, a submarine-launched version of the SM-6 multi-role missile seems like the most conventional possibility.
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Because the SM-6 is networked and doesn't rely on organic sensors installed on its firing platform for targeting, submarines could even act as clandestine launch platforms for anti-aircraft attacks.
www.thedrive.com...
The SM-6, which you can read all about in this recent profile we published on it, can be launched from the Mark 41 Vertical Launch Systems found on American destroyers and cruisers. In its latest form, it is fully networked, allowing it to receive targeting data from a variety of platforms, including airborne, ground-based, or surface-based sensor nodes. This concept is called Cooperative Engagement Capability/Naval Integrated Fire Control CEC/NIFC and it is one of the most important concepts the sea-going force is trying to implement at this time.
Because the SM-6 is networked and doesn't rely on organic sensors installed on its firing platform for targeting, submarines could even act as clandestine launch platforms for anti-aircraft attacks. This would allow for more vulnerable assets, like E-2D Hawkeyes, MQ-4C Tritons, P-8 Poseidons, and powerful radar-packing surface combatants to stand off at long ranges, using their sensor's great reach—outside the range of their own or nearby weapons—to their advantage and remotely ordering up attacks on enemy ships and aircraft by surprise.
Adversaries are increasingly deploying integrated and networked capabilities as part of the Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) strategy in highly contested environments. To achieve air superiority against this strategy in support of joint force mission objectives, the Air Force needs to develop a family of capabilities that operate in and across the air, space and cyberspace domains— there is no single capability that provides a “silver bullet” solution. This family must include both stand-off and stand-in forces, integrated and networked to achieve mission effects.
originally posted by: schuyler
The US has a supersonic submarine? Awesome!
originally posted by: schuyler
The US has a supersonic submarine? Awesome!
originally posted by: anzha
a reply to: C0bzz
The US Navy did a test fire of a hypersonic missile from a sub, too:
news.usni.org...
An antiship version would be...delicious.
As for the arsenal plane being a sub or the SM-6 being used, I'm a bit dubious. SAMs from subs have been done before. The datalink could compromise the sub and the sub can't get away as fast as a stealthy aircraft can.
originally posted by: CreationBro
originally posted by: schuyler
The US has a supersonic submarine? Awesome!
I know!
Speed of sound is only like....1500 m/s in water though. That sub is maybe going 4500 mph tops....psht. Weak.
Can you imagine a sub that fast? Terrifying if it took a wrong turn and mounted a beach. It'd likely end up a mile inland and the path of distruction would be insane.
originally posted by: Spacespider
originally posted by: CreationBro
originally posted by: schuyler
The US has a supersonic submarine? Awesome!
I know!
Speed of sound is only like....1500 m/s in water though. That sub is maybe going 4500 mph tops....psht. Weak.
Can you imagine a sub that fast? Terrifying if it took a wrong turn and mounted a beach. It'd likely end up a mile inland and the path of distruction would be insane.
Or hitting a whale
originally posted by: C0bzz
One issue is communications. For example, how do you tell the submarine to fire the missile? Bear in mind that that ELF is slow and can be intercepted (albeit it can be keyed). And normal bands cannot transmit deep into water, necessitating something close or on the surface.
I'm wondering if you could make a stealthy and extremely small antenna that is disguised as something like a log to receive the information, which could then be transmitted to a deeper submarine via a cable.
There's also the issue of a missile launch being detected, but this applies to all missiles not just subsurface to air, and it applies to SAM sites as well.
originally posted by: anzha
a reply to: Forensick
Harpoons can be fired from subs. I'm unsure if they pack them on every mission though.
A hypersonic missile would allow for prompt strikes from much further away. Mach 5 being about a mile per second. For the same flight time, a Mach 5 hypersonic missile can cover almost 7x the distance. 450 nm instead of, say, around 67. The added bonus is being in the engagement envelope of the defenses for about a 1/7th the time, too.