Re: Strategic nuke VS carrier

M wrote:

But, if the capability to wipe out CVBG's "no matter what" really
was a priority, I cannot see why shotgun-targeted M(I)RV's wouldn't
fit the bill. And, cost-efficiently even, at least in the very limited
sense of being cheaper than a CG, if strategic nukes and BM's were
fielded anyway.

Especially as Soviets had operational satellite-based targeting system
"MKRC Legenda", partially operational from 1969 onwards and fully
operational from 1979 onwards. System had both radar and sigint
satellites. Radar satellite was powered with small nuclear poweplant
and Canada was not amused when Cosmos 954 fell upon them in 1978... On
the other hand, as it was Soviet technology, does anyone have any idea
if MKRC Legenda actually worked or not? According to declassified CIA
estimate from 1983 the system had capability of:

"high probability of detecting carrier-sized ships in fair weather" and
"detection of destroyer-sized ships highly probable, but only under the
best of conditions (illuminated length-on in calm seas)".

But naturally this is Reagan build-up estimate so possibly it may have
to be taken with a grain of salt.

More information on MKRC Legenda:

http://www.svengrahn.pp.se/trackind/RORSAT/RORSAT.html

If it did not work, the missiles could have been targeted by MRSC-1
Uspekh U which combined information from SIGINT and radar recon
aircraft.

Mvh,
Jon K

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: How many satellites are in geosynchronous orbit by now?
    ... >Yeah I guess there's about as much scrap of there as there are ... >satellites;) I wonder how they keep updates on which is which of the ... Radar is not very useful up there -- the strength of a radar echo drops as ...
    (sci.space.history)
  • Remote ISAR satellie imaging
    ... shiped the raw radar returns to Lincoln Lab, ... Remote Real-Time Radar Imaging of Satellites ... Lincoln Laboratory successfully demonstrated ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: ISS as a passive reflector
    ... geo-stationary TV satellites as passive reflectors on 10GHz. ... What radar CS did you assume? ... nor is it directly related to the area you would "see" from the earth. ...
    (uk.radio.amateur)
Loading