US ANTI AIRCRAFT WEAPON SYSTEM

aeo178 · Post by **aeo178** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 12:24 pm

i want to custumize a US antiaircraft system but I dont want it be be missile system i already have 2 types. Any one know what modern day system we use now. u military guys can help me. i love the modern us weapons.

Ruger · Post by **Ruger** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 2:00 pm

The simple answer is "we don't". We mainly rely on the Air Force to obtain air superiority over the battlefield. There have been a number of systems developed, and some even fielded, only to be cancelled and/or withdrawn. Since none of our recent foes have had much in the way of airpower, we've gotten by, but I for one, think that it's an area where we could certainly use some improvement.

MV

Post by **aferguson** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 2:20 pm

hm, interesting. I guess unless there's a conflict with a major power, like china or russia, it's a safe bet the airforce will be able to have total air supremacy over any future battlefield.

popeye357 · Post by **popeye357** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 3:26 pm

The 20mm CIWS is a pretty sharp aircraft killer. It will kill the target then keep shooting at the garbage created by the explosion. They are using it in theater to take out mortars. Good system. Would look kickass in 1/18.

GooglyDoogly · Post by **GooglyDoogly** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 5:36 pm

A lot of people forget that the Patriot missile is really an anti-aircraft missile system.

And apparently, NASAMS are being used to protect the Washington DC area.

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 5:53 pm

The US army also has the stinger and the avenger weapons system.

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/docs/ch2.pdf

Post by **aferguson** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 7:24 pm

yes i think the C-RAM is what you're looking for, aeo178

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsnhyTiTqk4

Ruger · Post by **Ruger** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 8:31 pm

Sorry, my original response was posted from work, in the very end moments of my lunch hour. Now I have a bit more time...

To begin with, from the original posters query, I assumed we were discussing modern, mobile, vehicle-mounted, tactical theater air defense. Basically, a vehicle that would/could travel with an armored column and/or convoy, and protect it from enemy airstrike(s). This basically rules out man portable missile systems (not saying a guy with a Stinger in back of a truck would be a bad thing to have along, but rather that it falls outside of the scope of this discussion), and fixed site systems that require extensive set-up.

That said, let's take a look at what we (do not) have:

The M163 Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) that was used by the United States Army. The M168 gun is a variant of the General Dynamics 20 mm M61 Vulcan rotary cannon—the standard cannon in most US combat aircraft since the 1960s. Eventually the M48 and M163 were both replaced in US service by the M1097 Avenger and the M6 Linebacker.

Note the part about it being phased out and replaced.

The M247 Sergeant York DIVAD (Division Air Defense) was a self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon (SPAAG), developed by Ford Aerospace in the late 1970s. Based on the M48 Patton tank, it replaced the Patton's turret with a new one that featured twin radar-directed 40 mm rapid-fire guns. It was intended to replace the M163 Vulcan Air Defense System and fight alongside the M1 Abrams and M2 Bradley fighting vehicles in the U.S. Army. However, despite the use of many off the shelf technologies, a series of technical problems with the system and cost overruns caused the cancellation of the project in 1985.

This one never came to fruition. Too bad, as it would be a nice one to model, and used an existing chassis. Let's move on to missiles, which the Army seems to favor for this sort of work.

MIM-72A/M48 Chaparral is a US Army self-propelled surface-to-air missile system based on the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile system. The launcher is based on the M113 family of vehicles. It entered service with the US Army in 1969 and was phased out between 1990 and 1998. It was intended to be used along with the M163 Vulcan Air Defense System, the Vulcan covering short-range short-time engagements, and the Chaparral for longer range use.

Phased out. Also too bad, as I'd have liked to haved one paired with a M-163. These next few sort of go together, as the missile systems are all very similar, but mounted on different chassis:

NOT PICTURED: LAV-AD

M6 Linebacker

M6 Linebacker, an air defense variant, these vehicles are modified M2A2's with the TOW missile system replaced with a four-tube Stinger missile system. These are due to be retired from U.S. service.
Further notes: Army-Technology.com notes that 99 total M6 Linebacker units were delivered to the U.S. Army, and that In February 2005, United Defense was awarded a contract from the US Army's Tank-automotive and Armaments Command to remove the Stinger missile systems from 88 Bradley Linebackers and convert the vehicles to standard M2A2 ODS infantry fighting vehicles by June 2006.

The Avenger Air Defense System provides mobile, short-range air defense protection for ground units against cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, low-flying fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters. The Avenger was originally developed for the United States military and is currently used by the Army. Until recently, the system was also used by the Marine Corps.

LAV-AD (Air Defense)
LAV fitted with an electric turret mounting a 25 mm GAU-12 Equalizer gatling cannon, and two, four missile pods, which contain FIM-92 Stinger SAM. It carries 990 rounds of 25 mm ammunition, and 16 FIM-92 Stinger missiles. This variant has been removed from service.

So, of the trio, only the HMMWV version remains in use. I'm somewhat surprised that there doesn't seem to be much talk of an air defense version of the Stryker, but when considering the Army's history I guess it makes sense, why introduce one just to phase out...

There does seem to be something interesting on the horizon, Raytheon successfully tested launching AMRAAM missiles from a five-missile carrier on a M1097 HMMWV (hum-vee). This system will be known as the SLAMRAAM (Surface Launched (SL) and AMRAAM). They receive their initial guidance information from a radar not mounted on the vehicle.
While still under evaluation for replacement of current US Army assets, the SL-AMRAAM has been deployed in several nations military forces. The US Army has test fired the SL-AMRAAM from a HIMARS artillery rocket launcher as a common launcher.

I'm sure I could go on, as the lack of a suitable anti-air platform is a bit of a pet peeve of mine, but this should give you enough basic info to start with. My own 1:32 troops, they are always on the lookout for serviceable ZSU-23-4 and ZSU-57-2 vehicles they can press into service...

MV

YT · Post by YT » Thu Dec 24, 2009 11:21 pm

I would love to do an Avenger custom. My last few years in the ARNG we were supposed to be an avenger unit, but we had the same equipment we had when we were MANPADS. We were told to simulate having avengers...

aeo178 · Post by **aeo178** » Fri Dec 25, 2009 7:49 am

Thank you guys especialy ruger that was what im looking for i love this forum for info. You guys are awsome. i thought the vulcan was no longer in use since desert storm. i have a patriot stinger and hawk missile system i custum made in 1:18 next is the avenger. looks like the vulcan will be in therir too

luftpanzer · Post by **luftpanzer** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 2:43 pm

I think you can still find the Sgt York kit produced by Tamiya in 1/35th scale.

aeo178 · Post by **aeo178** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:42 pm

decided to go with the lav-ad air defence system for my next custumizing.

<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad34 ... 825124.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad34 ... 825124.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

already have the turret almost done.