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French frigate downs supersonic missile in NATO exercise
- woliveirajr 5y ago> In April 2012, the Horizon-class frigate, Forbin, of the French Navy downed an American GQM-163 Coyote target simulating a sea-skimming supersonic anti-ship cruise missile traveling at Mach 2.5 (3000 km/h) with an altitude of less than 5 metres. It was the first time a European missile defence system destroyed a supersonic sea-skimming "missile". The trial was described as a "complex operational scenario".[1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aster_(missile_family) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aster_(missile_family) Seems that the sea-skimming abatement capacity increased from 3500 km/h to 8000 km/h.
- LatteLazy 5y agoThis and the successful testing of land based interception for icbms might well make carriers viable again soon...
- Apofis 5y agoIt's also really good news in preventing a strike first mentality.
- JoeyBananas 5y agoShooting down a missile with another missile is still a lot harder than shooting a ship with a missile.
- a0-prw 5y agoI suggest improving relations with Russia at least to the extent that our Eastern partners can provide us with a realistic target, so our PR press releases can acquire a veneer of truthfulness.