Weapon that could defeat the US in the Gulf

I find this story disturbing. If they do in fact have these missles, they could destroy our entire Naval Fleet within a matter of hours.

Here are a couple paragraphs:

After the collapse of the Soviet Union the old military establishment fell upon hard times. But in the late1990s Moscow awakened to the under-utilized potential of its missile technology to generate desperately needed foreign exchange. A decision was made to resuscitate selected programs, and, very soon, Russian missile technology became a hot export commodity. Today, Russian missiles are a growth industry generating much-needed cash for Russia, with many billions in combined sales to India, China, Viet Nam, Cuba, and also Iran. In the near future this dissemination of advanced technology is likely to present serious challenges to the US. Some have even warned that the US Navy�s largest ships, the massive carriers, have now become floating death traps, and should for this reason be mothballed.


The Sunburn can deliver a 200-kiloton nuclear payload, or: a 750-pound conventional warhead, within a range of 100 miles, more than twice the range of the Exocet. The Sunburn combines a Mach 2.1 speed (two times the speed of sound) with a flight pattern that hugs the deck and includes �violent end maneuvers� to elude enemy defenses. The missile was specifically designed to defeat the US Aegis radar defense system. Should a US Navy Phalanx point defense somehow manage to detect an incoming Sunburn missile, the system has only seconds to calculate a fire solution �� not enough time to take out the intruding missile. The US Phalanx defense employs a six-barreled gun that fires 3,000 depleted-uranium rounds a minute, but the gun must have precise coordinates to destroy an intruder �just in time.�

The US Navy has never faced anything in combat as formidable as the Sunburn missile. But this will surely change if the US and Israel decide to wage a so-called preventive war against Iran to destroy its nuclear infrastructure. Storm clouds have been darkening over the Gulf for many months. In recent years Israel upgraded its air force with a new fleet of long-range F-15 fighter-bombers, and even more recently took delivery of 5,000 bunker-buster bombs from the US �� weapons that many observers think are intended for use against Iran.

Full Story here:

www.informationclearinghouse.info...

isnt this kind of old news?
because everyone nows that Iran has those missiles and that US ships are restricted to a small area in the golf and are sitting targets to these.

( kind of good news for iran , they have something they can fight back with if needed )

[edit on 28-10-2004 by bodrul]

I didn't know about it. This particular article came out two days ago.

There is already "metalstorm" type ship defensive mounts on most carriers. The long range radar can identify the "sunburns" before they reach the ship and the targeting systems are fast enough to destroy multiple inbounds on the carriers.

I dont think you should be so worried about that, as the release of radioactive material from strategic attacks on Iran's nuclear infrastructure.

A number of existing past threads on the Russian Sunburn anti-ship missile within ATS archives. Interesting reads. Remember, NO one weapon can defeat a determined foe.


seekerof

Seems folks have forgotten about RAM - Phalanx is being withdrawn....

Sunburn can be picked up 100 miles out and Standard Mk III can take them out....

RAM at last ditch........plus dont forget DIXIE and ECM.

Not foolproof but the iranians should not think cakewalk either...

My question is: Okay, so Iran, maybe Iraq have these missiles, they do not seem to have the technical know-how to maintain and upkeep complex weapons systems. If this is indeed the case, how much of a threat do these missiles pose in any great numbers?

The issue of Sunburns was discussed a while back in the weaponry forum.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Seemed like it was a very dangerous weapon and even if it could be intercepted, the debris would still cause lots of damage because of the high speeds.

I seem to believe the greatest "Weapon that could defeat the US in the Gulf" is,

The human suicide smart bomb.

Or at least it's pretty effective in guerrilla warfare.

Originally posted by thirddensity
I find this story disturbing. If they do in fact have these missles, they could destroy our entire Naval Fleet within a matter of hours.

Here are a couple paragraphs:

After the collapse of the Soviet Union the old military establishment fell upon hard times. But in the late1990s Moscow awakened to the under-utilized potential of its missile technology to generate desperately needed foreign exchange. A decision was made to resuscitate selected programs, and, very soon, Russian missile technology became a hot export commodity. Today, Russian missiles are a growth industry generating much-needed cash for Russia, with many billions in combined sales to India, China, Viet Nam, Cuba, and also Iran. In the near future this dissemination of advanced technology is likely to present serious challenges to the US. Some have even warned that the US Navy�s largest ships, the massive carriers, have now become floating death traps, and should for this reason be mothballed.


The Sunburn can deliver a 200-kiloton nuclear payload, or: a 750-pound conventional warhead, within a range of 100 miles, more than twice the range of the Exocet. The Sunburn combines a Mach 2.1 speed (two times the speed of sound) with a flight pattern that hugs the deck and includes �violent end maneuvers� to elude enemy defenses. The missile was specifically designed to defeat the US Aegis radar defense system. Should a US Navy Phalanx point defense somehow manage to detect an incoming Sunburn missile, the system has only seconds to calculate a fire solution �� not enough time to take out the intruding missile. The US Phalanx defense employs a six-barreled gun that fires 3,000 depleted-uranium rounds a minute, but the gun must have precise coordinates to destroy an intruder �just in time.�

The US Navy has never faced anything in combat as formidable as the Sunburn missile. But this will surely change if the US and Israel decide to wage a so-called preventive war against Iran to destroy its nuclear infrastructure. Storm clouds have been darkening over the Gulf for many months. In recent years Israel upgraded its air force with a new fleet of long-range F-15 fighter-bombers, and even more recently took delivery of 5,000 bunker-buster bombs from the US �� weapons that many observers think are intended for use against Iran.

Full Story here:

www.informationclearinghouse.info...

HAHAHA YEAH IGHT ... are naval fleet is composed of Submarines too.

Ever think that the USN would just sit back while the AF bombs Iran into oblivion and the would move in?

That is assuming of course that they consider these missles that much of a threat.