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VL-JSM and Type 45 - Making the best of what we've got, a very short thread:
1. Norway's Kongsberg JSM, by all accounts is a very capable missile system, currently being eyed by Australia and Japan among others. Based on the larger canister-launched Naval Strike Missile, it is capable of striking sea and land targets at a range "in excess of" 100nm.
2. As shown in the first image, it is being launched from the 8-cell, 5.3m Length, self-defence variant of the Mk.41 VLS, more regularly used for firing ESSM. JSM normally is 4m long, and while there is a rocket booster (see below) to account for, it may well fit in our A50 VLS.
3. What this would provide is a very capable, smart, stealthy - albeit somewhat short-ranged - Land Attack capability, and a greatly enhanced Anti-Ship capability for the Type 45. Additionally the JSM would grant the RN/RAF F-35 force a credible stand-off anti-ship weapon.
4. With 48 Cells, just 8 committed to VL-JSM would be a substantial increase in firepower with marginal degradation to its air defence capability. However, if Quad-Packed CAMM is thrown into the mix to replace Aster 15, you begin seeing configurations such as -
5. 36 Aster 30
16 CAMM
8 JSM
Plus Potentially (albeit unlikely):
8 Harpoon/Harpoon Replacement - which may well be NSM.
Meaning that with a credible anti-ship capability and nice, littoral land attack capability, you still have considerable wallop for Area and Point Air Defence
16 CAMM
8 JSM
Plus Potentially (albeit unlikely):
8 Harpoon/Harpoon Replacement - which may well be NSM.
Meaning that with a credible anti-ship capability and nice, littoral land attack capability, you still have considerable wallop for Area and Point Air Defence
6. The Vertical Launch Joint Strike Missile was shown in model form in 2014, but since 2015 at least, not much has been said publicly about that particular variant, which casts doubt on whether the concept is still being offered.
7. Anyway, just some random thoughts and shouting into the wind. Have a good one.
