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But what the SLQ-32 is used for is to control counter-measures, such as chaff or jamming. The SLQ-32 may very well figure out what type of missile is going to hit the ship in the next two seconds. But that is useless it can do something about it.
I can't tell you the exact SPY slide run for this, but lets assume that for a C-802 you get 15 seconds from detect to hit (take my word for it). That is enough for two SM2 (unless there is more than one escort, then more) engagements, several ESSM (or RAM depending one the specific hulls present) engagements, and one CIWS engagement. This is assuming the missile aquires its target (if it is self homing), the source survives (if it is guided by a third party) and doesn't get confused by chaff or electoronic jamming (another thing the SLQ-32 is good for).
No, it isn't. A phased array radar creates a radar beam from an array of discrete antenae. It is not "active 360 continuously". The computer still has to sweep the beam across the search area. The beam is either pointing at the target or it isn't, just like a traditional targeting antenna.
First of all, no it can't. Second of all, do you know how many softball sized targets there are within 256 nm of a cruiser at sea-skimming heights? Maybe 1 trillion. All those wave tops. Would you like to view the targets sequentially?
Of course, the missile has to be above the waves, what do you think a missle traveling Mach 2 looks like after getting smacked with white cap?
The difficulty with sea skimming missiles is not that they blend in with the water, it is that they can hide themselves under the horizon as long as possible. Once they are over the horizon however they will be seen by any decent air search radar. Or can you think of anything else that moves at Mach 2? Oh yeah, waves, I forgot
Ever, uh, been to the ocean? They have these things called "waves".
But sea-skimming (or Nap of Earth) are difficult to detect even on a smooth surface, because you can't simply rotate a wide beam and expect a return from anything in range.
The earth itself blocks the radar unless it is pointed not only in the right direction, but also at the perfect azimuth.
The ship was operating in a war zone, knew that missile attacks were being made and that there was an Iraqi aircraft nearby. They were equipped with US anti-aircraft defenses designed to protect the ship from missiles. Despite this, they and an AWACS plane, failed to detect the launch of either missile or their target.
FACT: The ship was not at its highest level of readiness, if it had it would have shot the mirage down.
FACT: The ship is not an AAW platform.
FACT: Obviously they did not consider Iraqi planes a threat because they saw it and determined it was not a probable threat
Bunch of cheap frigates I guess.
Solution. Don't put the carrier in the worst position possibe (ie within shore missile battery range of China).
First, why don't you explain why you think we are going to defeat China's air force in 5 days? Afaik the USAF doesn't think that.
2.) You will have to explain why the force ratio between the USN itself and the PLAAF doesn't answer this question for you. Then we can add in the USAF for fun. And then our likely allies to belabor the point.
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