wulff
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- Oct 3, 2007
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Does it matter that it's not a cold launch as long as the result is the same. You swap the used tube out with a new one, and you're ready to go again.
If this is the first version, I hope the next versions can be more compact.
I have a somewhat radical idea for a MANPAD. I want to see ROKETSAN develop a longer ranged, higher altitude capable portable missile after this. Something like that unique iranian SAM which bought down a saudi tornado in yemen recently. A two-stage, field assembleable missile powered either by a rocket motor or a turbojet motor or a combination of the two.
This missile would be significantly larger and heavier than current manpads, but easily transportable by infantry in a disassembed form. This is very doable with today's technology. An ASRAAM, for example, is 2.9m long and weighs 88 kg. It is capable of hitting targets beyond 50km when launched from a fighter. So ground launched version should be capable of hitting targets at 15-20km without any additional booster.
Instead of being shoulder launched, make this missile launchable from a field assembled tripod, somewhat similar to a large mortar. Maybe develop a motorcycle-mounted launcher for it. That could go places a four wheel vehicle couldn't. Firing it from a jeep should be no problem either.
A 12-15 km range portable SAM which can hit targets at upto 30,000 ft would not just be a manpad on steroids, but also a revolutionary weapon in some very specialized roles. It can provide air defence in high altitude mountain warfare, be used in clandestine ops vs enemy airbases, give friendly forces in Libya and Syria a weapon capable of taking out high flying aircraft and drones.