Re: High Velocity Missiles (HVM)

Tony Wilkinson wrote:

> ... I don't know why no one
> has yet gone for faster than sound missiles. Mount the missile with a
solid
> penetrator rather than a charge and let rip. Guidance maybe?

They have.
Avco: BKEP, boosted kinetic energy penetrator airfield attack munitions.
Teledyne Ryan: Firebolt, Mach 4, reusable target.
Martin Marietta & Oerlikon: ADATS Air Defence Anti-Tank System.

Quote from Advanced Technology Warfare:
"... if such a missile were to impact at over Mach 5 the kinetic energy
alone would
probably
be sufficient to destroy all but the largest aircraft, and only a small
warhead
would be needed."

This book (ISBN 0 340 373113) was published in 1985 and is certainly out
of date
now,
but I've found that its accuracte in its predictions.

Andrew Martin
Al.Bri@xtra.co.nz
members.xoom.com/AndrewMartin

ps. I believe that the British also have a HVM system, called Star
Streak?