Report of the Air-to-Air Missile System Capability Review. July-November 1968. Volume 1
Abstract
Almost 600 air-to-air missiles have been fired by Navy and Air Force pilots in about 360 hostile engagements in Southeast Asia between, 17 June 1965 and 17 September 1968 (data of last hostile engagement). Performance in combat indicates a probability of achieving about one kill for every ten firing attempts in any engagement where air-to-air missiles are employed in an environment similar to that in Southeast Asia. In assessing performance to date and exploring the ways and means of effecting future performance improvements, the review addressed air-to-air missile systems in each of five discrete stages of their life cycles, ranging from original design and manufacture through repair and rework. Review objectives address five basic questions: 1. Is industry delivering to the Navy a high quality product, designed and built to specifications? 2. Are Fleet support organizations delivering a high quality product to the CVA's and to the forward area sites ashore? 3. Do shipboard and squadron organizations (afloat and ashore) launch an optimally ready combat aircraft-missile system? 4. Does the combat aircrew fully understand and exploit the capabilities of the aircraft-missile system? (Corollary question: Is the aircraft-missile system properly designed and configured for the air-to-air mission); 5. Is the air-to-air missile system (aircraft/fire control system/ missile) repair and rework program returning a quality product to the Fleet?
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- ADA955142
Entities
People
- Frank W. Ault
Organizations
- Naval Air Systems Command