Defense Technology International - May 2008 - (Page 8)

AROUND THE WORLD NEWS BRIEFS MIG-31 UPGRADE ADDS LONG-RANGE MISSILES The Russian air force has taken another step in modernizing its ﬂeet of MiG-31 Foxhound interceptors, which entered service in the early 1980s. The ﬁrst two upgraded MiG-31BMs were delivered to a training center at Savasleika air base in March, where operational tests and evaluations—as well as air- and ground-crew training—take place. The updates focus on the Zaslon weapon-control system, which uses phased-array radar, and is capable of simultaneously tracking 10 targets while engaging four at a range of 110 naut. mi. Radar and computer improvements double the detection range, air force ofﬁcials say. Cockpit avionics have also been upgraded, with color LCD displays and a satellite navigation system. The upgrade equips the MiG-31 with ultra-long-range missiles. These most likely include the Novator KS-172 (AAM-L) air-to-air missile, with a range of 220 naut. mi. The weapon was ﬁrst tested in 1994. It was displayed at Moscow’s MAKS-2007 air show on a Sukhoi Su-35 ﬁghter. Another reported advantage of the MiG-31BM is its ability to counter stealth cruise missiles and future hypersonic aircraft. ■ MIG CORP. DECOY SINGS SWAN SONG FOR TORPEDOES Rafael Advanced Defense Systems of Israel ofﬁcially unveiled its fourth-generation Torbuster hard-kill torpedo decoy for submarines at Paciﬁc 2008 earlier this year in Sydney. The device defends against acoustic homing torpedoes. The weapon works after launch by seducing an incoming torpedo through transmission of acoustic signals using a technology based on Rafael’s Scutter reactive acoustic decoy for ships. As the torpedo homes in, the decoy senses when the weapon is at the closest point of approach and explodes, inﬂicting sufﬁcient damage to neutralize the torpedo. Rafael also displayed Wizard, a passive radiofrequency corner reﬂector decoy. Wizard distracts or seduces radar-guided anti-ship missiles with chaff-discrimination capabilities. It comes in single or twin corner-deﬂector conﬁgurations. The decoys are launched from a ship and ﬂoat in the air for a preset amount of time while deﬂecting missiles aimed at the vessel. Wizard has been tested by the Israeli navy and was used in NATO’s annual MCG/8 electronic warfare trials in Norway last June. ■ RAFAEL PHOTOS TRISHUL GETS THE HEAVE-HO 8 DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL MAY 2008 DRDO After almost 25 years of R&D and an investment of $70 million, India has thrown in the towel on the Trishul (Trident) tri-service, anti-aircraft missile system. Trishul, based on Russia’s 9M33 Osa missile (SA-N4 Gecko), had a range of 9.5 km. (5.9 mi.) and altitude of 4.5 km. It was 3.2 meters (10.5 ft.) long, 21 cm. (8.3 in.) in diameter and had a launch weight of 125 kg. (275 lb.). Trishul used a three-beam K-band (2040 GHz.) radar command-to-line-of-sight guidance system. It was to be deployed on ships, truck-mounted quad launchers and the army’s BMP-1 armored vehicle chassis. India is now scrambling to ﬁnd a quick-reaction anti-aircraft weapon. The air force seems to have found a solution in Rafael’s Spyder SR, with 18 systems ordered for air base protection. The navy is working with the Israeli Barak missile system and the Barak 8/NG, which is in development. The army is issuing a request for proposals for a longer-range weapon. ■ AviationWeek.com/dti http://AviationWeek.com/dti

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Defense Technology International - May 2008

Defense Technology International - May 2008 Contents Around the World Science Watch Tech Watch Learn and Live Think Again Vive la Difference En Route Out of the Box Package Deal On Watch Inside Job Programs Update The Net Back to the Future Busy Signal Mighty Mites Hull of an Idea Tough Enough Cutting Edge First Person In Review Insight

Defense Technology International - May 2008

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