Although years of work are still ahead, a whole new breed of flying weapons is fast changing concepts of future offensive and defensive aerial warfare.
There are guided missiles - sleek, high-speed products of industry and science. unlike ordinary bombs or shells, they can be guided by remote control to targets after they have been launched. Large missiles are being developed to fly hudnrerd of miles to blas massive targets; smaller versions to intercept and bring down the highest-flying enemy bombers.
Four baswic types of guided missiles are being developed. These are:
1. surface-to-surface missiles, the largest - made to be fired from the ground or Navy ships against distant surface targets;
2. surface-to-air missiles - anti-aircraft weapons;
3. air-to-air missiles - designed to replace guns as primary armament for aicraft of the future;
4. air-to-surface missiles - to be launched in the air from areas outside the enemy's heaviest defenses for guided flight to a surface target.
Some of these types, like Chance Vought's Regulus, are in limited production today. But much more development work lies ahead.
0 Comments