The Navy Vol_64_Part2 2002 - Navy League of Australia

The Littoral ProblemWith 80% of the UN's membership having a coastalborder the littoral becomes an ever increasingly importantand potential area of future conflict. Despite this fact, nearlyevery ASM presented so far has a major deficiency whenused in the littoral/archipclagic battle space. Given thedependence on radar seekers the current generation of ASMsare unable to distinguish targets when backgrounded by landthe British withdrew the Sea Eagle ASM from servicerecently for this reason. Most ASMs in use today weredesigned with the classic open ocean naval battle in mind thathad no landmass clutter to return multiple confusing radarpictures to the ASM.The littoral also presents the problem of a compressedbattle space littered with fricndlies. non-combatants, manmadestructures and natural features which the ASMs listedare unable to discriminate against. Further. ASMs with a longrange like Harptx>n are more likely to continue on if its targetis obscured by land and hit a non-combatant of a neutral flagor another politically sensitive asset. Use of such a missilethen becomes less attractive to responsible militaries or thosewith few stocks. The recent Australian While Paper's focuson Harpoon use in the littoral seems to have neglected thisTTwo frame by frame images of the firsl Harpoon Block II striking a land target. Block II will givemany navies a long range precision land attack capability previously only enjoyed by the USN.(Boeing)problem. In reality it could mean that its use will be restrictedor banned.The following five missiles, due to enter service shortlywith Navies around the world, have been designed toovercome the littoral problem, giving their users a distinctadvantage when operating in this environment.Harpoon Block IIThe new Block II Harpoon is designed to operate in thelittoral env ironment through the application of a number ofnew and existing technologies. Its new guidance systemincorporates technologies from two other existing weapons -the low-cost, incrtial measuring unit from the JDAM (JointDirect Attack Munition); and the software, mission computer,integrated Global Positioning System (GPS)/INS. and theGPS antenna and receiver from ihe SLAM-ER (Stand-offLand Attack Missile Expanded Response) missile.The new mission computer can be fed a database ofcoastlines to allow accurate navigation and targct/landmassdiscrimination. Its search pattern can also be controlled bylimits placed on it by the GPS correlating landmass andcoastline data. Upon finding the ship target the HarpoonBlock II can attack in the same manner as the Block IC. Theaccurate navigation solution also allows the missile to overtlyland and aid in discriminating target shipsfrom islands or other natural or man madestructures. An added benefit of this Blockupgrade is the ability to attack land targetssuch as SAM sites, harbour facilities,runways, buildings etc. It is understoodBoeing is keen to sell Harpoon Block II tothe RAN for the Anzac upgrade programmegiving it a littoral ASM and land attack standoff capability, a perfect fit to the recentAustralian White Paper's focus for futureoperations.Users: none in the region - at this stage.MaverickWhile the AGM-65 Maverick has beenaround for some time it's the RNZN'semployment of the new maritime enhancedversion on its Super Seasprite helicopterswhich make it even more useful as an ASM.Given the missile's IR TV passive guidanceit does not suffer from the problems of landmass clutter or confusion as radar guidedmissiles do. Further, the operator can identifythe target before firing thus having the optionof aborting if the target turns out to be not theintended. Although the new Maverick isspecifically designed to be used against shipsit also retains its land attack pedigree givingthe RNZN a rather unique littoral attackcapability against ships and shoreinstallations.Users: RNZN.PenguinThe Norwegian Penguin ASM was designedfrom the outset with the littoral problem inmind. Norway needed an ASM that it coulduse along its jagged coastline that would notfly into the first mountain the ASM's radarseeker found. Penguin uses a passive IRseeker with an INS to find and attack ships12 VOL. 64 NO. 4 THE NAVYThree images of a Penguin ASM being fried from a USN Scahawk during the recent R1MPAC 2(X)2 exercise off Hawaii. The Penguin is being acquired bythe RAN for use of the new Super Seasprite helicopters. (USN)near land masses. It has the capability to fly over iand. makepre-programmed changes in height and direction and can alsobe programmed to fly over a selected number of ship targetsbefore making its attack, it comes with a 120kg semi-armourpiercing warhead and has a range of approximately 35kms. Inits terminal phase the missile is programmed to dive at theship's waterline for maximum damage from blast andHooding. The missile will be used from the RAN's SuperSeasprite helicopters and hopefully the Seahawks.Users: RAN.A Polyphem missile undergoing wind tunnel testing. The Polyphem is awire-guided missile making it impervious to Electronic Counter Measuresand imp«>ssible to detect by passive means.PolyphemOne of the more interesting and useful missiles for thelittoral environment currently under development is theGerman Polyphem. The missile is an optically guided rocketcontrolled by a fibre optic data link cable feeding IR TVimages back to the fircr - allowing for target identificationand an indication of a hit. Tne IR seeker can detect shiptargets at 8.300m or 42 seconds from impact and identify thetype of ship at 1.350m or 12 seconds before impact. Its INS.with GPS. lakes the missile to a point near the target wherethe firer then guides the missile during the terminal phase.v TA ICM Polyphem heing fired from a ground launchcrPolyphem has a range of approximately 60kms and a 20kgfragmented shaped charge warhead. It is immune to ECM andcan be used against and by ships, shore installations, vehiclesand helicopters.Users: none at this stage.IVitonThe German Triton missile is very similar to Polyphemexcept that it is used by submarines while submerged againstASW helicopters, fixed wing aircraft or against land targets.ConclusionMany ASMs currently in service around the region willexperience problems when used in the littoral, some will betotally useless. Also, the age and level of sophistication ofmost makes countering them a somewhat straightforwardexercise. The reconnaissance requirement for the proficientuse of any of the region's ASMs is often a forgotten andneglected crucial factor in their successful use. The high costof more advanced ASMs makes them either unattainable bymany, or forces them to be ineffective users relying on theconfidence trick/bluff of deterrence. All these factorscontribute to reduce the effect and influence of the ASM inthe littoral environment. However, technology, in the form ofnew missiles such as Harpoon Block II. Maverick. Penguin.Polyphem and Triton, can re-address littoral deficiencies.Proficient users make the littoral battle space an even moredynamic and dangerous domain even for the professionalNavy.It should be noted that despite the deficiencies of theASMs listed earlier the littoral docs remain a dangerous placefor the surface Navy. As ASM radar seekers suffer fromincreased radar clutter from land so do many ship basedradars which can be rendered blind to an ASM attack.However, many Navies have already addressed this problemthrough development and improvements in surveillance andhard and soft kill counter measures. Despite this. WesternNavies still need to be extra vigilant in the littoral. J-•This anicle first appeared in Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter and isreproduced with the Editor's permission.THE NAVY VOL M NO 4 13