AuH2O
YaBB God
Posts: 4,239
|
 |
« on: January 19, 2005, 12:53:45 AM » |
|
The threat is somewhat overrated-- as of now, Iran's missiles are almost assuredly conventional, and will remain that way. Using a nuclear weapon against the US is highly unadvisable, at least while a Republican is President.
Sunburns are essentially obsolete anyway. Unlike the small, short-range Exocet (which is mediocre also), the Sunburn is huge, thus showing up on radar (particularly if you have aircraft on patrol). Unlike the superior Shipwreck (the 'S' words are a carry-over from NATO code names for Soviet surface-to-surface missiles), the Sunburn lacks the speed to make Standard Missile (SM-1/SM-2/SM-ER) interception particularly difficult.
Iran also lacks the command and control to fire hundreds simultaneously, and can only launch from land. These weapons were really meant to fired by Soviet submarines, which would come within relatively close range of the US fleet before firing a 30-missile salvo. Even if they hit, it takes several to sink a Destroyer and many, many to sink a Carrier.
|
