| From: | Paul Jonathan Adam <Paul@********.DEMON.CO.UK> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: How to handle missiles? |
| Date: | Fri, 1 Sep 1995 17:09:25 GMT |
> Aren't all radar-guided missiles proximity fused?
No. Some, such as the British Rapier, are "hittiles" - sufficiently
accurate to have only contact fuses. The advantage is that the warhead
can be much smaller, hence the missile is faster and more agile and
more likely to achieve that hit. Also, the missile can fly much lower
to engage low-flying targets without the proximity fuse being activated
by obstructions.
The Shorts Starstreak, although laser-guided rather than radar-guided,
has no warhead: the kinetic energy of three tungsten darts travelling at
Mach 4 provides perfectly adequate killing power. Hence, no fuse :)
--
"When you have shot and killed a man, you have defined your attitude towards
him. You have offered a definite answer to a definite problem. For better
or for worse, you have acted decisively.
In fact, the next move is up to him." <R.A. Lafferty>
Paul J. Adam paul@********.demon.co.uk
