Irans Tu-22 Backfire fleet

[Burner]

I strongly doubt that even a very small missile boat would be able to get within 120 km of a CVBG without being spotted and consequently destroyed. Let's not forget that no matter what the Iranians throw at the USN, an american CVBG operating in a military operation against Iran, is not at a picnic. The entire battle group would be on high alert... you name it... ASW, CAP, S&R, ELINT and so on... the aircraft will be taking care nothing "bad" happens, not to mention de defensive capability of the CVW itself and that of the escorting ships. So... I'm more concerened about the ground fighting and aircraft losses than ship losses.

 

[contedicavour]

I strongly doubt that even a very small missile boat would be able to get within 120 km of a CVBG without being spotted and consequently destroyed. Let's not forget that no matter what what the Iranians throw at the USN, an american CVBG operating in a military operation against Iran, is not at a picnic. The entire battle group would be on high alert... you name it... ASW, CAP, S&R, ELINT and so on... the aircraft will be taking care nothing "bad" happens, not to mention de defensive capability of the CVW itself those of the escorting ships. So... I'm more concerened about the ground fighting and aircraft losses than ship losses.

I hope you're right, but the USN is so used to warfare in the high seas of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean that I'm not 100% confident with all the threats littoral conflicts could generate. Besides, the USN has to cross the Hormuz straits where a speed boat with C802 missiles could be hiding less than 50km away from the first escorts surrounding a carrier.
The main air threat IMO is very-low-altitude flying by SU24 Fencers appearing just behind the mountain range that flanks the Iranian coast of the Persian Gulf and launching C802 or Harpoon or for example Sunburn missiles into the CVBG from 100 km. It would be suicidal as the planes would never make it back to their bases, but still it would be a threat.

cheers

 

[Big-E]

I hope you're right, but the USN is so used to warfare in the high seas of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean that I'm not 100% confident with all the threats littoral conflicts could generate. Besides, the USN has to cross the Hormuz straits where a speed boat with C802 missiles could be hiding less than 50km away from the first escorts surrounding a carrier.

Hence LCS, they are operational and ready at San Diego.

 

[Pursuit Curve]

I hope you're right, but the USN is so used to warfare in the high seas of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean that I'm not 100% confident with all the threats littoral conflicts could generate. Besides, the USN has to cross the Hormuz straits where a speed boat with C802 missiles could be hiding less than 50km away from the first escorts surrounding a carrier.
The main air threat IMO is very-low-altitude flying by SU24 Fencers appearing just behind the mountain range that flanks the Iranian coast of the Persian Gulf and launching C802 or Harpoon or for example Sunburn missiles into the CVBG from 100 km. It would be suicidal as the planes would never make it back to their bases, but still it would be a threat.

cheers

Don't forget, Hawkeye AWACS aircraft can see down, so hiding behind mountains won't help, so flying at zero feet won't help.

Its an inetersting scenario, but not one that will have the legs to carry out a war or a battle, assets are not to be sacrificed in fruitless attacks. A small motor launch with SSM is great if your going after a tanker, freighter, oil platform or another small boat, preferably unarmed, NOT a destroyer, Frigate, Carrier (God Forbid, I mean for the small boat). Anyways, the fast reacting RAM and also devastating automatic weapon capability, combined with CAP and choppers, would render any such strategy a pointless venture.

Even Subs are not a sure way of doing business, hence excellent western technology, and of course, the organic subs that a Carrier Battlegroup has is a very potent counter too.

 

[contedicavour]

Hence LCS, they are operational and ready at San Diego.

I thought the first LCS was barely becoming operational as we speak ? By the way, what is the LCS' AAW weaponry ? 16-cell VLS for ESSM ?

cheers

 

[Big-E]

I thought the first LCS was barely becoming operational as we speak ? By the way, what is the LCS' AAW weaponry ? 16-cell VLS for ESSM ?

cheers

What do you mean by barely? AAW is not it's capability, it has RAM but that's it. It will rely on Zumwalts to fill AAW roles. Remember this system is part of an integrated force structure.

 

[contedicavour]

What do you mean by barely? AAW is not it's capability, it has RAM but that's it. It will rely on Zumwalts to fill AAW roles. Remember this system is part of an integrated force structure.

I mean that it is just now being integrated in the fleet, thus it will still need some time to become operational. Especially since it is first in class of a completely new design.
Since this thread is on military aviation, I won't insist on this more "naval" topic. However, it could be interesting to analyze the capability of a CIWS system such as RAM (or even a Phalanx) against supersonic ASM missiles such as those that can be launched by Backfires. A single RAM system can probably destroy 1 or 2, not more Mach 4 incoming missiles.