David
Fri March 21, 2003 6:49am
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Patriot PAC-3 ERINT
Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) is a high/medium advanced surface-to-air guided missile air defense system. PAC-3 is a major upgrade to the Patriot system. The PAC-3 Operational Requirements Document (ORD) represents the Army Air Defense need to buy back required battlespace lost against the current and evolving tactical missile and air breathing threat. PAC-3 is needed to ounter/defeat/destroy the 2008 threat and to extend Patriot's capabilities to accomplish new/revised missions. In tandem with the upgraded radar and ground control station, PAC-3 interceptors can protect an area about seven times greater than the original Patriot system.
The PAC-3 Program consists of two interrelated acquisition programs - The PAC-3 Growth Program and the PAC-3 Missile Program. The Growth program consists of integrated, complementary improvements that will be implemented by a series of phased, incrementally fielded material changes. The PAC-3 Missile program is a key component of the overall improvements of the Patriot system, it will provide essential increases in battlespace, accuracy, and kill potential.
PAC-3 is a much more capable derivative of the PAC-2/GEM system in terms of both coverage and lethality. The PAC-3 has a new interceptor missile with a different kill mechanism--rather than having an exploding warhead, it is a hit-to-kill system. The PAC-3 missile is a smaller and highly efficient missile. The canister is approximately the same size as a PAC-2 canister but contains four missiles and tubes instead of a single round. Selected Patriot launching stations will be modified to accept PAC-3 canisters.
The Battalion Tactical Operations Center (BTOC) is an M900 series 5-ton expandable van that has been modified by the addition of data processing and display equipment, and utilized by the battalion staff to command and control the Patriot battalion. The BTOC allows the staff to perform automated tactical planning, communications link planning, and to display situational awareness information.
In the 1997 budget DOD added about $230 million for the PAC-3 through the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP) and established a realistic schedule to lower the program execution risk by extending the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase of the program by ten months. System performance will be improved by re-phasing the missile and radar procurements; upgrading three launchers per battery with Enhanced Launcher Electronics Systems; and extending the battery's remote launch capability. PAC-3 Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) will begin in the second quarter of fiscal year 1998, and the First Unit Equipped (FUE) date is planned for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1999. The FUE capability will consist of 16 missiles and five radars which will be placed in one battalion. As of 1996, in addition to funds being programmed for the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, the Army planned to spend $9.6 billion for all planned purchases of Patriot missiles, $490 million for modifications and $335 million for product improvements.
The Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOTE) began in 2002. The two major objectives of the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOTE) are: (1) To assess the improvements in system performance provided by modifications in terms of operational effectiveness, suitability, and survivability; (2) to verify that modifications do not degrade the existing capabilities. The Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOTE) will be the first operational integration and assessment of the complete Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) Configuration 3 system.
The 2nd Battalion 43rd Air Defense Artillery/108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade serves as the test unit for the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOTE). The unit is equipped with the complete package of Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) Configuration 3 hardware, PDB-5+ software and the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) missile. The Patriot Project Office has issued the upgraded equipment to 2-43 Air Defense Artillery. 2-43 has completed New Equipment Training (NET) and supports testing necessary to obtain material release of the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) Missile equipment.
The Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOTE) is conducted in four phases: (1) The Sustained Operations Phase is a five-day deployment to McGregor Range using approved tactics and doctrine. 2-43 Air Defense Artillery will defend against live aircraft in accordance with threat test support package in a simulated combat environment; (2) The Interoperability Phase is a six-day demonstration of the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) interoperability with current Army and Joint Theater Missile Defense Systems. This phase is conducted using the Joint Common Simulated Missile Defense System Exerciser or actual tactical equipment; (3) The Flight Mission Simulator (FMS) Phase is a 22-day test of simulated air battles. The mobile Flight Mission Simulator (FMS) is a Patriot missile system simulation used to stimulate and evaluate radar performance, engagement decision and weapon assignment (EDWA) processing and test the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3)’s capabilities against a full spectrum of threat targets; (4) The Missile Flight Test Phase consists of four live missile tests conducted at White Sands Missile Range and Kwajalein Missile Range.
The Air Defense Artillery Directorate of the Operational Test Command conducts the planning and execution of the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOTE). Once Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOTE) is complete, the Army Evaluation Center prepares the system evaluation report. This report provides input for the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) missile Milestone III decision (full rate production) and the materiel release for the complete Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) system.
Four PAC-3 operational tests [some involving more than one interceptor launch] between February 2002 and May 2002 resulted in three launch failures, two misses and one hit that failed to destroy the incoming warhead. A malfunctioning radar and software problems led to the misses, and the launch failures resulted from electrical problems.
The Army received the first 16 PAC-3s -- a full launcher load -- in September 2001. The Army is authorized to produce the missiles at a rate of 72 a year, and Congress authorize an increase to 96 per year in fiscal 2003. The plan is to eventually produce 144 a year, leading to a total inventory of 1,159 interceptors. Unable to certify that the PAC-3 interceptor was ready for stepped-up production, in mid-2002 Pentagon put off the decision for at least a year, and planned on further testing once fixes are in place.
By early 2000 the cost of each PAC-3 missile had increased from $1.9 million to over $4 million, and the estimated total program cost had risen from $3.9 billion to $6.9 billion. After design and manufacturing modifications were initiated to control costs, the estimted cost per missile dropped to about $3 million, and as of mid-2002 program officials expected to reduce the unit cost to $2 million.
Initial reports of a successful intercept of a Patriot missile-as-target by a Pac-3 missile on 25 April 2002 have sinced proven to be incorrect. A US Army statement said that subsequent analysis showed that the Pac-3 impacted the target missile but failed to destroy the warhead, so the intercept was unsuccessful. A second Pac-3 in the same test failed to launch. A PAC-3 missile successfully intercepted a target ballistic missile over Kwajalein Atoll on 30 May 2002. A second missile, however, failed to launch for unknown reasons. A failure to launch also occurred in the last test on 25 April. The target was a modified Minuteman missile with a separating reentry vehicle. This was the last test in the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) program, prior to a Pentagon assessment of PAC-3’s readiness for full-rate production.
As of late October 2002 the Army had taken delivery of 38 PAC-3 missiles, with another 15 due for delivery by December. The military is under contract to receive an additional 126 missiles over the 2003-2004 period. Congress increased the fiscal year 2003 budget request for PAC-3 of 72 missiles by an additional 48 missiles. In late November 2002, DOD approved plans to double PAC-3 monthly production rates, with the number of missiles increasing from four to eight per month after more manufacturing equipment and a second shift of personnel were added. DOD will acquire 108 PAC-3 missiles in FY 2004.
The overall procurement objective of 1,159 PAC-3 missiles remains unchanged. The larger purchases in FY-03 and FY-04 may be offset by lower production in FY-08 and FY-09. Instead of buying 216 missiles in each of those years, DOD would receive 184 units annually.
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David
Mon March 24, 2003 8:52pm
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Mobile refuge
A U.S. Marine sits inside an armored personnel carrier Monday near the southern Iraqi town of Nasiriyah, the scene of two days of fierce fighting between Marines and Iraqi forces.
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Marissa
Wed March 26, 2003 3:58pm
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Seabees of Naval Mobile C
Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Seeventy-Four (NMCB 74) clean their weapons, play cards and write letters home as they unwind in their 60 man field tents Feb. 11, 2003, Central Command AOR. NMCB 74 based out of Gulfport, Miss., is currently forward deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
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David
Thu March 27, 2003 9:08am
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Confirmed military action
Wednesday, March 26, 2003: Elements of the 7th Cavalry Regiment face Medina armoured Republican Guard divisions outside Karbala as they push for Baghdad.
Wednesday, March 26, 2003: Elements of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force headed to Al Kut to push into Baghdad along the Tigris and hit the Republican Guard's southern forces.
Wednesday, March 26, 2003: Battle continues near Nasiriyah. Marines capture Iraqi military hospital along with weapons, ammunition, chemical suits and gas masks.
Wednesday, March 26, 2003: US troops secure Talil Air base in southern Iraq.
Wednesday, March 26, 2003: US-led war planes bombed targets in the northern part of the country including Mosul, Kirkuk and Tikrit.
Tuesday, March 25, 2003: American Marines are engaged in a heavy battle east of Najaf for control of the Euphrates valley region and river crossings.
Tuesday, March 25, 2003: Coalition forces confirm that 43 soilders have been killed in the campaign to date.
Tuesday, March 25, 2003: British troops have amassed outside the southern Iraqi city of Basra in preparation for an urban assualt on the city that previously was not a military target.
Tuesday, March 25, 2003: Coalition forces bomb two Iraqi bunkers in northern Iraq destroying one.
Tuesday, March 25, 2003: A friendly fire exchange results in the death of 2 British soliders.
Monday, March 24, 2003: A US Apache helicopter is downed in fighting ouside Karbala. The 2 US pilots have been captured by Iraqi forces and shown on Iraqi TV and al Jazeerah.
Monday, March 24, 2003: US Apache helicopters attacked Armored Republican guard positions between Karbala and Al Hillah, meeting with stiff resistence.
Monday, March 24, 2003: 70 US Special Forces troops are said to be working with Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq to destroy Ansar al-Islam strong holds in the moutainous border region between Iran and Iraq. Ansar al-Islam is beleived to have ties to al Qaeda and is blamed for a suicide bombing in northern Iraq this past weekend that killed and independent journalist.
Monday, March 24, 2003: US coalition forces report that cruise missles have been launched again Ansar al-Islam position in northern Iraq.
Monday, March 24, 2003: More than 200 special forces are said to be operating in northern Iraq and more continue to arrive on regular coalition flights through Turkish airspace.
Monday, March 24, 2003: A heavy battle still rages in the southern Iraqi town of Basra that has led coalition forces to draw back from the city. Fierce fighting to control the city, which the coalition said was siezed Friday, continues.
Monday, March 24, 2003: A bus carrying 36 civilians was bombed accidently by coalition forces as it tried to cross a bride in northwest Iraq. 5 Syrian nationals were killed and many injured, all were trying to escape fighting by fleeing to Syria.
Sunday, March 23, 2003: An unmanned, remote-controlled Predator drone destroyed an antiaircraft artillery gun in southern Iraq on Saturday. It was the first Predator strike of Operation Iraqi Freedom, coalition defense officials said. The MQ-1 Predator dropped one Hellfire II missile on the mobile antiaircraft artillery piece outside Amarah at 1:25 p.m. (5:25 a.m. Saturday EST), near the Iranian border, according to the Combined Forces Air Component Command. about 90 miles south of Baghdad.
Sunday, March 23, 2003: The U.S. military has secured a facility in southern Iraq that Pentagon officials said might have been used to produce chemical weapons. The officials cautioned that it wasn't clear what materials were at the facility in Najaf, about 90 miles south of Baghdad.
Sunday, March 23, 2003: US Army 11th Helicopter attack force engages the elite 2nd Armored Brigade of the Republican Guard outside Karbala, meeting stiff resistence and a hail of anti-aircraft fire described by one pilot as a 'wall of fire.'
Sunday, March 23, 2003: US Army support team is ambushed and captured by Iraqi forces after straying from forces in the Nasiriyah area. As many as 4 were US soilders killed in the ambush and up to 6 captured. Captured troops and those killed have been shown on Iraqi television and al Jazera.
Sunday, March 23, 2003: Heavy fighting in Nasiriyah has resulted in the death of at least 4 American troops.
Sunday, March 23, 2003: Late reports from US are saying that a RAF plane was accidently shot down by a Patriot missile in a friendly fire incident. Details as to the pilot's condition and the circumstances of the friendly fire incident are not yet available.
Saturday, March 22, 2003: In a Kurdish region of northern Iraq, a freelance cameraman working for the Australian Broadcasting Corp., Paul Moran, 39, died when a taxicab exploded at a checkpoint in Sayed Sadiq, the network said. Three Kurdish fighters also died, and an ABC correspondent was wounded, it said. Security officials of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan blamed the blast on a suicide bomber from an Islamic extremist group, Ansar al-Islam, which U.S. officials believe has links to al Qaeda.
Saturday, March 22, 2003: Two British helicopters collided in the Persian Gulf during the support operations killing all 7 troops on board; 1 American and 6 British, bringing the casulties to 21 - 7 Americans and 14 British.
Saturday, March 22, 2003: As many as 1,500 Turkish troops are reported to be poised to cross the border into Kurdish controlled northern Iraq creating some tensions between the US and Turkey. Turkey claims that the troops have been sent to the border region near Iraq to aid in any humanitarian efforts and also to monitor the Kurdish situation as the war progresses.
Saturday, March 22, 2003: The city of Al Basrah in southern Iraq was encircled by allied forces who opted not to enter the city. After engaging minimal resistence on the outskirts of the city coalition forces passed by the without claiming continuing to Baghdad.
Saturday, March 22, 2003: The H2 and H3 air fields, beleived to be site of Scud launchers in western Iraq, have been taken by coalition forces who clain tentative control of both installations.
Saturday, March 22, 2003: Kurdish forces and CNN sources confirm that the city of Kirkuk has been the target of aerial bombardment for the third night of the campaign.
Saturday, March 22, 2003: The northern city of Mosul is reported to have come under heavy bombardment for the third night in a row.
Saturday, March 22, 2003: Though coalition forces claimed tentative control over Umm Qasr -- over 24 hours ago, allied forces continue to come under fire from pockets of resistence.
Friday, March 21, 2003: The port city of Umm Qasr -- Iraq's only outlet to the Gulf - has fallen to allied forces. The old port was taken by British troops; U.S. Marines seized the new port.
Friday, March 21, 2003: The port city of Umm Qasr -- Iraq's only outlet to the Gulf - has fallen to allied forces. The old port was taken by British troops; U.S. Marines seized the new port.
Friday, March 21, 2003: Retreating Iraqi troops are confirmed to set 9 oil wells a blaze outside the southern city of Al Basrah.
Friday, March 21, 2003: U.S.-led forces strike the northern city of Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city.
Friday, March 21, 2003: Intense bombing of Kirkuk resumes for the second night. Anti-aircraft fire is visible over the city.
Friday, March 21, 2003: A second Marine from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force was killed during the fight for Umm Qasr.
Friday, March 21, 2003: A US Marine has been killed in the line of fire, details are not yet available.
Friday, March 21, 2003 : Coalition forces bombed the Iraqi-controlled northern city of Mosul just before 4:30 a.m. Friday (8:30 pm Thursday EST).
Friday, March 21, 2003: Kurdish fighters in the Mosul region confirm that an air field outside of Mosul was bombed by US forces.
Friday, March 21, 2003 : British troops moved into the Al Faw Peninsula of southern Iraq. The Al Faw Peninsula runs from the Iraqi city of Basra to the Persian Gulf and is home to a significant portion of Iraq's oil industry.
Friday, March 21, 2003 : Iraqi television early Friday said targets hit by coalition forces included a military site in the southern city of Basra, near the Kuwaiti border, and another target in Akashat, a town about 300 miles west of Baghdad near the Syrian border. Iraqi television reported four Iraqi soldiers were killed.
Friday, March 21, 2003: Several thousand US airborne troops are expected to land in northern Iraq with the objective of capturing the strategically important city of Kirkuk and securing oil fields. The US had wanted to station about 60,000 troops in Turkey with the aim of carrying out a full scale ground invasion - but the plan has been blocked by the Turkish Government.
Friday, March 21, 2003 : American troops with about 250 main battle tanks are pushing into south-western Iraq with the aim of moving swiftly north towards Baghdad. US Marines and around 25,000 UK ground troops and armour are expected to cross into southern Iraq in a second offensive, analysts say. Royal Marines from the UK's 3 Commando Brigade are expected to occupy the strategically important southern city of Basra.
Friday, March 21, 2003: Iraq fired a ballistic missile targeting US and British forces as they crossed the Kuwait/Iraq border.
BAGHDAD:
Wednesday, March 26, 2003: During the continued bombing campaign of Baghdad, US Pentagon officials confirm that ordinance hit in heavily civilian marketplace in northern Baghdad.
Tuesday, March 25, 2003: Coalition forces flew over 3,000 missions in the last 24 hours and heavily bombed Baghdad. Iraqi television stations were targeted and destroyed in what an American commander described as 'decapitating the Iraqi leadership's ability to communicate'. However, Iraqi television was broadcasting only hours later.
Monday, March 24, 2003: Baghdad and outlying areas are being bombing in a effort to 'soften' Republican Guard positions around the city. The coalition hopes to keep the Republican guard from retreating to Baghdad and engage them outside the city proper. Saddam International Airport and military airstrip outside Baghada have also been hit by cruise missles.
Sunday, March 23, 2003: Baghdad continues to be the target of night bombing and air raids. Iraq has set oil filled trench dug around the city on fire to hinder the coalition's bombing campaign. A US Defense spokesman regarded this tactic as "useless and ineffective" against percision weapons technology.
Saturday, March 22, 2003: Baghdad is pounded with over 1,000 cruise missiles and pecision weapons for the third night of the campaign in Iraq. Iraq claims that over 200 civilians have been injured in the attacks.
Friday, March 21, 2003: Air raid sirens sound at 9:00 pm Baghdad local time (12:00 pm EST), for a half hour the city waits as anti-aircraft streaks the night sky. At approximately 9:25 pm Bagdad local time, heavy percision bombing begins in various parts of Baghdad. City areas are pounded for several hours.
Friday, March 21, 2003: U.S. officials said approximately 20 cruise missiles were launched in the most recent attacks from U.S. Navy ships and submarines in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf and - for the first time - from two British submarines. Two of the three main buildings in the Tigris complex of ministerial office have been completely destroyed and left unusable after being struck by percision bombs. Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's palace and government offices along with Special Republican Guard strongholds were among targets hit during this second day of bombing in Baghdad.
Thursday, March 20, 2003 : An intense U.S. and coalition bombing attack rocked the Iraqi capital with a succession of explosions and fires that destroyed at least two buildings -- including the government facility containing the offices of Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz.
KUWAIT:
Monday, March 24, 2003: Iraq has launched 6 additional ballistic missles on Kuwait. 4 were intercepted by Patriot missiles and the remaining two were said to have hit in southern Iraq.
Monday, March 24, 2003: A Patriot missile intercepted an Iraqi missile fired toward Kuwait about 1 a.m. Monday [5 p.m. Sunday EST], a Kuwaiti army spokesman said. The missile was intercepted north of Kuwait City and came down away from any residential area, Col. Youssef Al-Mulla told CNN. The resulting explosion could be heard as a muffled, distant boom in the Kuwaiti capital.
Saturday, March 22, 2003: Iraq is reported to have fired another ballistic missile into Northern Kuwait. Coalition forces say the missile was shot down by a Patriot missile.
Saturday, March 22, 2003: A US soilder of the 101st Airborne based in northern Kuwait is being held for a grenade attack in Camp Pennsylvania that killed 1 American troop and wounded at least 12 others. Early reports say that it was an act of defiance and sabatoge by an American troop who recently converted to Islam and disagrees with coalition actions in Iraq.
Friday, March 21, 2003: Iraq retaliates against invasion forces by firing up to 7 missiles into northern Kuwait.
Friday, March 21, 2003 : U.S. Marine CH-46 helicopter crashed in northern Kuwait early Friday morning, killing all 16 people on board - 12 British military personnel and four American crew members, Pentagon officials said.
Thursday, March 20, 2003: Iraq responded to the attack by firing at least four missiles into northern Kuwait, two of which U.S. Patriot missiles intercepted, U.S. military officials said. U.S. forces sounded numerous alerts in the hours after the strikes, sending troops at several bases scrambling for chemical protection gear and running for bunkers. Air raid sirens also sounded in Kuwait City.
IRAN:
Saturday, March 22, 2003: Washington has confirmed that they are in tense diplomatic talks with Iran who claims that as many as three cruise missiles misfired and landed inside Iran. Reports remain unconfirmed and Washington says it is investigating the situation.
TURKEY:
Sunday, March 23, 2003: Two U.S. cruise missiles fell in unpopulated areas of Turkey on Monday, the Pentagon said. No one was hurt.
Saturday, March 22, 2003: Turkish and U.S. military authorities investigated an undetonated missile that appeared to have fallen into a remote village in southeastern Turkey. No one was hurt by the missile, which witnesses said left a crater 13 feet [4 meters] wide and 3.3 feet [1 meter] deep. The missile fell in Ozveren, 430 miles [688 kilometers] northwest of the border with Iraq, at about 5:30 p.m. [9:30 a.m. EST], as planes were seen flying overhead, witnesses said.
Saturday, March 22, 2003: Turkey grants the use of its airspace for US military and coalition over flights.
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David
Thu April 17, 2003 1:23pm
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Spreading the word
Wednesday, April 2, 2003, A cellular phone in the West Bank town of Hebron on Wednesday displays a mobile message with the image of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein saying, in Arabic: "God saves my soul for you, God destroys America."
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tdeane
Wed April 23, 2003 7:28pm
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USS Alabama port shot
Picture of USS Alabama at final resting spot, Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama.
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tdeane
Wed April 23, 2003 7:35pm
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USS Alabama, B.M.P Overhe
The USS Alabama at her home, Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama.
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tdeane
Thu April 24, 2003 10:44am
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USS Drum at Battleship Me
The USS Drum (SS-228) now rests out of water on her cradle at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama.
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tdeane
Thu April 24, 2003 12:47pm
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USS Mobile, CL-63
USS Mobile underway in Pacific, OCT 43.
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tdeane
Thu April 24, 2003 12:48pm
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USS Mobile Pacific Run
Underway in Oct 43.
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David
Fri April 25, 2003 6:06pm
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CGC STINGRAY, Mobile, Ala
CGC STINGRAY, Mobile, Alabama, 2000
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David
Fri April 25, 2003 6:06pm
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CGC COBIA, Mobile, Alabam
CGC COBIA, Mobile, Alabama, 2002
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1IDVET
Thu July 17, 2003 1:13pm
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MGS Stryker
Mobile Gun System (105mm) Styker
Interim (Stryker) Brigade
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 9:38pm
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An-124 Condor
Function: High payload, long range cargo aircraft.
History: Introduced in 1982 as a long range, heavy lift cargo and troop transport aircraft, the Antonov An-124 Ruslan (NATO designation Condor) is currently the world's largest and heaviest payload aircraft in production in the world. Outclassing the C-5 Galaxy by nearly 20 tons in payload capacity, and the Ilyushin Il-76 by more than 100 tons, the An-124 is only exceeded in lifting ability by the special purpose An-225 Mriya (NATO designation Cossack) which was purpose built to transport the Russian space shuttle, and of which only two were built.
Currently in production at the AVIASTAR facility in Ulyanovsk and the AVIANT State Aviation Plant in Kiev, the An-124, in addition to serving with the Russian military as a long range high payload cargo aircraft capable of delivering or airdropping troops, and equipment, is also in service with a number of civilian organizations as a dedicated cargo transport. Antonov Airlines, Volga-Dniepr, and Poliot all employ the An-124, using it to transport heavy and over sized equipment such as hydraulic turbines, mobile cranes, railway locomotives, earthmovers and dump trucks, and sailing vessels. The An-124 is even capable of transporting other aircraft, ferrying partially disassembled passenger planes to customers worldwide.
To facilitate the loading and unloading of cargo, the nose section is hinged to open upwards, and the tail section is fitted with a pair of clamshell doors. Both nose and tail sections are equipped with integral loading ramps. In addition, the An-124 also employs two traveling cranes, two winches, a rollgang and tie down equipment which limit it's dependence on ground equipment for cargo handling and manipulation. The Ruslan is equipped with multi leg, self-orienting landing gear and is rough surface capable. The landing gear height can be adjusted on the ground, to facilitate loading cargo.
In addition to the An-124-100 currently in production, Air Foyle (UK) in conjunction with Antonov and Aviastar has proposed the construction of two new versions, the An-124-210, and the An-124-100M. Both versions will be equipped with Western and Russian digital instruments and displays which will reduce the crew size from 6 to 4. In addition, both will be equipped with a traffic alert collision and avoidance system, ground proximity warning system and a satellite communications system. The 210 will be outfitted with Rolls-Royce RB211-52H-T engines, while the 100M will be equipped with the Series 3 D-18 engines, produced by the Progress Design Bureau in Zaporozhe. Each of these engine upgrades will increase the Ruslan's range by 10% and reduce take off distance.
Description: Typical of most cargo aircraft, the An-124 body forms a thick oval cross-section, with a tapered aft section and rounded nose to facilitate cargo handling. The fuselage is of a twin deck design, the upper deck being the flight deck, and the lower deck serving as the cargo hold. On the flight deck are the cockpit, with stations for the six crewmembers, a relief crew compartment, and seating for an additional 88 passengers. The loadmaster's station is on the cargo deck.
The wings are mounted high on the fuselage at a negative dihedral, are tapered and swept, with a relatively high cross-section to increase efficiency and range. The four Lotarev D-18T turbofans are mounted on pylons underneath the wings. The horizontal stabilizers are also swept back and tapered, and are mounted at mid level on the fuselage, aft of the vertical stabilizer.
General Characteristics, AN-124 Condor
Power Plant:
Four D-18T turbofans (An-124-100)
Four D-18T Series 3 (An-124-100M)
Four RB211-524H-T (An-124-210)
Thrust:
229 kN (153,558 pounds)
An-124-210: 264 kN (177,027 pounds)
Length:
69.1 meters (226.4 feet)
Height:
21.08 meters (69.2 feet)
Wingspan:
73.3 meters (240.5 feet)
Cargo Hold Dimensions:
Floor length including ramps: 36.5 meters
Width at floor level: 6.4 meters
Height: 4.4 meters
Volume cargo hold: 1,270 cubic meters
Speed:
800 to 850 kmh
Cruise speed at an altitude of 9 km: 750 to 800 kmh
Ceiling:
12,000 meters (39,370 feet)
Load-Carrying Capacity:
120 tons using a 2,800 meter runway (2300 meters for An-124-210)
150 tons using a 3,000 meter runway (2500 meters for An-124-210)
Maximum Takeoff Weight:
392 tons
Range:
With maximum fuel: 13,300 kilometers (7,980 miles) (15,250 for An-124-210)
With 40-ton payload: 10,960 kilometers (6,576 miles) (12,730 for An-124-210)
With 120-ton payload: 5,030 kilometers (3,018 miles) (5,950 for An-124-210)
Crew:
Seven (An 124)
Four (An-124-100)
Four (An-124-100M)
Three (An-124-210)
Runway:
3000 meters (2,420 for An-124-210)
Takeoff run on concrete runway: 2520 meters (2,420 for An-124-210)
Landing roll on concrete runway: 900 meters
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 10:02pm
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SA-2 Guideline
Function: Provide medium to high altitude 360 degree coverage against single aircraft or small groups of aircraft.
Description: Designed as a replacement for the SA-1 fixed installation surface to air missile (SAM) system, the SA-2 is capable of defending fixed installations as well as mobile field forces. In addition, while the SA-1's field of fire was limited, the SA-2 has 360 degrees of coverage, though it is only capable of engaging one target at a time. Though the deployment pattern may vary, there are always six launching positions per site, generally centered around a guidance radar and accessible by roads to facilitate reloading and servicing. The SA-2 was deployed in the Soviet Union to protect military facilities and airfields, as well as civilian population centers with more than 200,000 citizens. Additionally, the SA-2 say service with Soviet military forces in Germany, and was distributed to the Warsaw Pact beginning in 1960. Though it is mobile, the lag time associated with setting up and displacing an SA-2 site precludes its following a fluid front. Rather, the SA-2 would be used to defend unit headquarters, logistic centers, and theater assembly areas.
The SA-2 is a medium to high altitude two stage surface to air missile dependent on radar command guidance and armed with either a 15kt nuclear or a 195kg fragmentation warhead, each with contact, proximity or command detonation capability. The booster is a solid rocket propellant motor fitted with four large fins. The second stage is equipped with a storable liquid propellant sustainer motor and three sets of fins, a large set of four is mounted in the mid section, a smaller set of power control fins is mounted at the base, and an even smaller set of fixed fins is mounted on the nose. The warhead is mounted in the second stage forward of the large fins. At medium and low altitude the kill radius is 65 meters and the blast radius is 100-120 meters, which compensates for the missile's 75 meter circle of accuracy. At high altitude the blast radius is 250 meters.
An SA-2 battalion consists of 6 launchers, a command post fire control team and fire direction computer, a Fan Song missile control radar, P-12 Spoon Rest early warning search radar and typically 6 reloads. Typically the launchers will placed in a hexagonal pattern with all the command and control elements placed in the center of the hexagon. The Spoon Rest A-band radar has a range of 275 km and the Fan Song fire control and tracking radar has a range of 60-120km (A/B versions) or 70-145 km (C/E/F versions), depending on altitude, target type, and operating conditions. China produces its own version of the SA-2 designated HQ-1 and HQ-2) as does Egypt (designated Tayir as Sabah).
General Characteristics, SA-2 GUIDELINE Surface to Air Missile
Propulsion:
Booster; solid, sustainment; liquid (inhibited red fuming nitric acid oxidizer and kerosene)
Length:
34.7 feet (10.6 meters)
Diameter:
27.5 inches (70 centimeters)
Weight Fully Armed:
5,070 pounds (2,300 kilograms)
Maximum Range:
35 kilometers (B/F models), 44 kilometers (C model), 50 kilometers (D/E models)
Minimum Range:
7-9 kilometers
Fuzing:
Impact, proximity, command detonated
Ceiling:
27 kilometers (B/C/F models), 40 kilometers (D/E models)
Speed:
Mach 4 (B/C/D models) Mach 4.5 (E/F models)
Guidance System:
Command
Warhead:
195 kilograms internally grooved fragmentation, 15 kilotons yield nuclear
Rate of Fire:
Three missiles per target but limited to one target at a time
Introduction Date:
1959
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