Vann7 Thu Nov 05, 2015 1:29 am
sepheronx wrote:No. Altitude is more than that, as Buk 9M317 has roughly 25KM altitude.
Edit: so far, no actual news. Probably 180km altitude but low range, or high range but lower altitude for 40N6. I noticed that after reading yours, mindstorms and GarryB's old posts in 2012 in the first one of this thread, that your mention of 25 - 30km was all the old missiles. There seems to be a lot of secrecy around 40N6.
And that can be understood..
Why would Russia release for public the real limitations of the S-400 air defenses with 40N6
missiles? physical wise the missile size seems to have enough size /fuel to travel beyond 50km of iskanders already can achieve. but at 100km altitude you need a different kind of engines
to operate with no oxygen and a missile that can operate in gravity zero. So probably the 180km altitude is using the S-500 missile that rumors say will also apparently operate in the S-400 launcher.
At very least 40N6 should have no problem to achieve the same altitude of Iskander that is rated
at 50km and with a 400km range. I think the altitude thing is more about the capability to intercept midcourse or not.. because in the final phase all ballistic missiles needs to go down and can be intercepted if the operator and conditions are right. IF the ballistic missile have good
counter measures and decoys and multiple warheads then no so easy.
all said.. i think the only chance to really defeat an Intercontinental missile with multiple warheads and decoys ,it is in mid course..before its warheads splits, because in final course ,it could be nasty and complicate for any system of defense. Something like EMP detonations ,Counter electronics that fry sensors and instruments ,lazer weapons or anti ballistic missiles
with nuclear warheads.Could help however.