That’s what the aegis ashore is for…the radar…if you're going through the trouble of putting missiles on the water, why not include even more important component - radars? I mean, if it's for protection, radars need more protection than VLS wells.
Anyway, where needed, coastal defense can make sense. But generally it's far too expensive to be put everywhere - so usually it's only for a very few select places. Like, right now, to protect approaches to Guam.
If you're already moving the missiles around, why not move the radar with it? Then, you can make them self-propelled to avoid reliance on a tug boat, and you should probably make the self-propelled barge with an ocean-going hull so it can stay at sea in storms, move between stations faster, or travel somewhere else where you only need a temporary Aegis Ashore station. Because it's a ship now, you would also need the rest of the combat system to defend against threats like sea-skimming anti-ship missiles, and submarines could also be a hazard so a sonar, torpedoes, and anti-submarine helicopter would make sense.That’s what the aegis ashore is for…the radar…
Because then you just have a destroyer.If you're already moving the missiles around, why not move the radar with it? Then, you can make them self-propelled to avoid reliance on a tug boat, and you should probably make the self-propelled barge with an ocean-going hull so it can stay at sea in storms, move between stations faster, or travel somewhere else where you only need a temporary Aegis Ashore station. Because it's a ship now, you would also need the rest of the combat system to defend against threats like sea-skimming anti-ship missiles, and submarines could also be a hazard so a sonar, torpedoes, and anti-submarine helicopter would make sense.
I would rather see the missiles launch from land, either stationary Mk 41s like the Aegis Ashore sites in Europe or the Mk 70 trailers that could be moved between the secure perimeters. The Typhon trailer solves your mobility problem while being significantly less vulnerable to air attack and not requiring safe coastal areas to move around your coastal defense asset.
The missile boosters can land in the water, problem solvedGiven the need for the missile boosters to land somewhere and the need for land to site the radars, you're better off with Aegis System Equipped Vessels than Aegis Ashore in most situations.
Guam and Hawaii seem to be the exceptions, though I'm not sure Hawaii can quite be called Aegis Ashore when the radars are parked on an oil rig or three.
You still need a place on a hilltop with lines of sight to the ocean to put the radars.The missile boosters can land in the water, problem solved
Would be rather costly, especially to create overlapping patterns. A system of few radars & synchronized recieving stations placed around (i.e. multistatic radar) would likely be cheaper and more efficient against low-flying & stealthy targets.Aegis ashore stations scattered around with slightly over lapping coverage combined with literal VLS barges being towed around between them.
Not really, I’m looking at a small mountain right now with nothing on top of it.You still need a place on a hilltop with lines of sight to the ocean to put the radars.
And every single one of those in New England already has something on it.
This wasn’t really a plan for drones…Would be rather costly, especially to create overlapping patterns. A system of few radars & synchronized recieving stations placed around (i.e. multistatic radar) would likely be cheaper and more efficient against low-flying & stealthy targets.
Exactly my point.Granted it is a state park, but there’s plenty of places to do so.