Civilian missile systems

[StingrayOZ]

With technology progressing at a fantastic rate and many previously military only technologies now common place, could civilians build or civilian companies produce military systems.

For example. A Radar is now just a few thousand $ for a pretty nifty setup with conciderable range and computing power. Raymarine offer several that can be networked over a "seatalk" (sort of ethernet) network using cat 5.

It can talk to PC's and other sensors such as sonar, air speed, etc.

Could out of these one produce a civilian missile system for say a private vessel or a commercial vessel?

Missiles could be Hellfire sized, solid propellant, with GPS and inertial guidance with a data link (say 433mhz type) with position data initally provided by the radar. I would imagine the radar could even provide updates of missile and target positions to ensure accuracy. Controlled by a PIC, working with a trajectory of the target and a timeframe (for slow water borne threats, such a system would not be suitable to protect against air threats).

The sort of thing that would be able to disable small boats frequently used by pirates and the like. Disabling past rifle range.

[tatra]

It would lead to an undesireable blurring of lines between what is a civilian ship and what is a (para)military/navy ship. Same applies for arming crews of civilian ships.

[rattmuff]

Just to mention rockets. :cool:
http://www.ssc.se/?id=6016
http://www.ssc.se/?id=5713
http://www.ssc.se/filearchive/8/8129/Maxus%20banbild.jpg

Possibilties if it gets really, really, really, "urgent". :shudder

[Grand Danois]

Just to mention rockets. :cool:
http://www.ssc.se/?id=6016
http://www.ssc.se/?id=5713
http://www.ssc.se/filearchive/8/8129/Maxus%20banbild.jpg

Possibilties if it gets really, really, really, "urgent". :shudder

Hmm. Perhaps we should put Sweden on the list of rogue nations. ;)

[tatra]

WHAT!?!? You mean to say they aren't on that list yet! :onfloorl:

[carman1877]

That would actually be a good idea. But there would be restrictions to who could buy it and where. For example if some crazy rich guy got one and shot down an US plane, that would be trouble. But if they monitor who gets it might work.

[StingrayOZ]

I was thinking more for large commerical ships to combat anti priacy or for custom vessels. Or by a private security company like blackwater to escort commerical ships.

Certainly the technology is out there to cobble together a very viable setup.

[TaranisAttack]

LMFAO!

If a civilian ship turned up in a harbour armed with missiles customs would almost certainly seize them. As for making a missile, it possible certainly but there are way more effective ways to make an ASuW missile than how you describe, but it's probably not a good idea to give out ideas of how to make them on a forum ;)

[StingrayOZ]

Im sure there are many legal problems.

But if we are arming civilian ships with rifles to combat machine guns and RPG's then where does it end? its already been suggested that ships operating in pirate areas possibly carry military missile systems.

There is enough technology and know how out there for people to assemble quiet complex "civilian" missile systems.

[Falstaff]

Im sure there are many legal problems.

But if we are arming civilian ships with rifles to combat machine guns and RPG's then where does it end? its already been suggested that ships operating in pirate areas possibly carry military missile systems.

There is enough technology and know how out there for people to assemble quiet complex "civilian" missile systems.

In most countries missiles of any type are classified as weapons of war and therefore may not be possessed or used by civilians. As soon as you install one of these civilian missile systems on a cruise ship you're going to be in big trouble...

[StingrayOZ]

What about calling them signal flare rockets.
Containing no explosives but have the ability just kinetic killing RPG's or putting holes into boats at a long distance.

[Falstaff]

What about calling them signal flare rockets.
Containing no explosives but have the ability just kinetic killing RPG's or putting holes into boats at a long distance.

I'm pretty sure that use for long distance strikes eliminates the legal self-defense umbrella, if lethal or not.
For killing RPG's a civilian derivate of a APS might be a more feasible solution.
What I'd do is use a smoke screen. IIRC these pirates are not known for sophisticated radar equipment. When they come, turn the ship into the wind and lay a smokescreen. Should create some confusion, esp. at night ;)