Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!bellcore!att!cbnews!military
From: tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (ATW))
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: A NASTY attack sub idea
Message-ID: <7105@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 3 Jun 89 04:53:18 GMT
References: <7065@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department
Lines: 42
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (ATW))

In article <7065@cbnews.ATT.COM> nak@cbnews.ATT.COM (Neil A. Kirby) writes:
> ...
>	Here's the situation: I'm at scope depth.  Some clown in a helo is
>    dipping and pinging me with his active sonar.  There isn't a thing that
>    I can do to this damn helo.  Or is there?
> ...
>	Can anybody comment on the possibility of Anti-air capabilities on 
>	subs?
> ...

There have been some rumors about some Soviet submarines being fitted
with small SAMs on their periscope masts. Most often the rumors have
to do with the Akula (SSN) and Kilo (SS) classes. 

Mast space is quite limited. Therefore, it is likely that the SAM will
be small and short range. A small missile probably rules out an active
radar homing missile. There probably is not enough mast room for a
weapon director illuminator. Nor is it likely that a reasonable
air-search or height-finding radar can be installed. Thus, it seems
that semi-active radar homing is out too. Anyway, stealthy submariners
would probably not be happy with too many radar emissions or having to
hang around to guide the missile.

So, it is probably likely that some sort of infra-red missile would be
used. It would be optically sighted. Perhaps, the missile system would
be converted from an existing SAM, like Stinger or Gremlin. If we were
talking about a non-superpower, a Javelin or RBS-70 conversion might
be possible. But these systems have the disadvantage of having to
guide the missile through it's entire flight.

Ideally, submariners would like to shoot out an encapsulated missile
and not have to use the periscope. But there are problems with target
acquisition. 

Ted Kim                           ARPAnet: tek@penzance.cs.ucla.edu
UCLA Computer Science Department  UUCP:    ...!ucbvax!cs.ucla.edu!tek
3804C Boelter Hall                PHONE:   (213) 206-8696
Los Angeles, CA 90024             ESPnet:  tek@ouija.board