SAR-777 Madoka
| SAR-777 Madoka | |
|---|---|
| File:SAR-777 Madoka.png Several launch configurations of the SAR-778 LRAAM. | |
| Type | Long-range surface to air missile and anti-ballistic missile |
| Place of origin |  Carthage |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2009-present |
| Used by | Carthage Gensokyo Republic Japan |
| Production history | |
| Designer | RMA Corporation Cordoba Aerospace |
| Designed | 1999-2009 |
| Manufacturer | RMA Corporation Cordoba Aerospace |
| Unit cost | $15 million (FY2012) |
| Produced | 2004-present |
| No. built | 4,000+ |
| Specifications (SAR-777) | |
| Weight | 1,720 kg (3,800 lb) |
| Length | 5.12 m (17 ft) 7.2 m (24 ft) (w/booster) |
| Diameter | 0.56 m (22 in) |
| Warhead | High-Speed Kinetic Impactor (HiSKI) |
| Wingspan | 1.01 m (40 in) |
| Propellant | Stage 1: Solid rocket booster Stage 2: Dual-thrust solid rocket motor Stage 3: Solid rocket motor w/attitude control motors Stage 4: Attitude control motors |
Operational range | 2,650+ km (1,650 mi) |
| Flight ceiling | 1,500+ km (930 mi) |
| Speed | 4.8 km/s |
Guidance system | 2-color LWIR, SARH w/datalink (SAGG), GPS/INS |
Launch platform | Mark 18 VLS, RFM-202 Shaheen |
The SAR-777 Madoka is a long-range heavy surface-to-air and anti-ballistic missile developed in and fielded by Carthage. It forms the primary defense against short to intermediate range ballistic missiles in the Carthaginian inventory when launched from naval and ground platforms. It also possesses anti-satellite capabilities, and in this capacity can be air-launched by any platform capable of carrying the missile's weight. The missiles have been exported to Japan and the Gensokyo Republic.
History
The SR-150 family of surface-to-air missiles was introduced in 1978 to replace the SR-120 series that had served through the Northern War. The largest of the series was the SR-150-3, a heavy SAM with a maximum range of 140 km (90 mi). Although not originally designed for ballistic missile defense, the capability was quickly developed via seeker and software modifications and introduced with the SR-150-3ER in 1989 following the Second Pacific War. The upgrades provided limited capability against short-range ballistic missiles and was largely derived from the Army's Bascinet air defense system. The shortcomings of the system were recognized by both the Army and Navy, but constrained budgets and the need to rapidly put a system into service to satisfy political demands limited the potential for a more capable design.
In 1995, amid the thawing of the defense budget, the need for a more capable mobile ballistic missile defense ranked highly enough to gain attention. Developments in stealth and precision ordnance technology made planners concerned that ELTO could launch a surprise attack on forward-deployed ABM stations in the Mediterranean, leaving the Carthaginian homeland open to attack. Sea- and ground-mobile platforms would help reduce this vulnerability, while also improving protection for task forces operating abroad. Both the Army and Navy signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 1997 to co-develop a more comprehensive air defense system to replace the SR-150 series and the Bascinet system.
Separately, in 1995 the Carthage Air Forces had begun work on a notional anti-satellite missile to counter the expanded European space footprint, initially dubbed the Type-92. The missile was to use an infrared seeker and a large-diameter missile body with solid rocket motors to intercept low-orbit satellites following launch from a multirole fighter. Development work progressed until 1999 with initial motor tests completed, when cost estimates for the Advanced Multirole Program prompted the Air Forces to begin scaling back or cutting certain lower priority projects. As a result, the Type-92 was cancelled in February 1999.
Joint ABM Program
In April, the Joint Missile Development Board (JMDB) issued its first request for proposals to develop the proposed ABM. Six entries were received, among them a joint RMA Corporation/Cordoba Aerospace bid using a modified Type-92, with a booster for ground launch and an improved seeker for terminal guidance. The proposal made use of the kinetic warhead designed for the anti-satellite role, but proposed maneuverability enhancements to improve the effectiveness against high-speed reentry vehicles. In November 1999, the RMA/Cordoba bid was selected as the winner, with a contract to develop the missile for a projected 2006 introduction date.
Initial flight tests launched from CRS Sabah Khayyam began in July 2003 to test the reconfigured rocket motors and new booster stage. Complete guidance system tests began in 2004, but encountered difficulties in maintaining the datalink and meeting seeker resolution requirements. While the datalink problems were solved by 2005, seeker resolution problems persisted and the introduction date pushed back. With the requirement for additional funding to maintain the prolonged development process, the Air Forces once again became involved in the project to develop an air-launched version to fulfill the original Type-92 requirements.
Due to difficulty developing the original seeker, an alternative seeker design was selected from North Iberian Electrical Systems. The NIES Dual-Color Advanced Seeker had been developed for a proposed multi-mode upgrade for the SAR-778 Sakura, allowing the ABM and air-to-air models to utilize the same seeker. The design was expanded and modified to fit into the HiSKI fourth stage, with the first tests of the new configuration occurring in April 2007. Following testing throughout 2008, the SAR-777 was approved for initial production in January 2009, upgrading to full production in October. Despite being primarily employed from sea and ground platforms, it retains its SAR designation as a radar-guided air-to-air missile as a result of the involvement of the Air Forces in the initial development stages.
Subsequent developments
The SAR-777 is currently primarily employed from Mark 18 vertical launch systems aboard warships and the ground-based WML-55 transporter erector launcher. The Stele combat management system is responsible for its guidance and control aboard warships, while land-based use is part of the Tarnhelm air defense system. Due to its protracted development, both the upgraded Stele CMS and Tarnhelm ADS entered service before the SAR-777, and the missile was later integrated into their weapon suites.
In 2010, the upgraded Revision 2 software was delivered to operational units, containing modifications to the flight profile to enhance accuracy and correct issues identified after widespread introduction. Revision 3 was delivered in 2013 and contained further stability improvements.
In 2012, tests against surface targets were conducted using towed barges. The missiles were identical to service variants but had modified and expanded guidance software. Out of four test firings, all four resulted in direct hits, qualifying the weapon for anti-ship use. However, due to the expense of the missiles compared to conventional anti-ship ordnance, use in this role is considered a last resort.
An expanded and enlarged version for ground use in special launchers or even silos is in early development, which would be capable of intercepting ICBMs at a lower cost than the current SWR-782 Eirin midcourse interceptor.
Operational features summary
Initially developed as an anti-satellite weapon, the current Madoka configuration is geared primarily toward the anti-ballistic missile role with supplementary capabilities as an anti-aircraft and anti-satellite munition. In the ABM role, it is capable of intercepting intermediate range ballistic missiles in the 7,000-8,000 km (4,350-5,000 mi) range, so long as the target missile passes within the SAR-777's fly-out range. It is primarily a midcourse interceptor, although it also possesses terminal defense capability enabling protection against anti-ship IRBMs, supplemented by SAR-778AM1B interceptors against tactical ballistic missiles. It can engage satellites up to a maximum altitude of 1,500 km (930 mi), and maneuvering aircraft at ranges up to 600 km (370 mi).
The missile uses a multi-mode guidance system throughout its flight, initially relying on seeker-aided ground guidance techniques during the boost phases before switching to a dual-color infrared seeker in the kinetic impactor for terminal guidance. Onboard satellite and inertial navigation systems provide supplementary guidance in the event of datalink loss due to jamming or parts failure. The terminal stage carries no explosive warhead and relies solely on kinetic energy to destroy the target, impacting with a force of over 170 megajoules. Via datalink, the missile can be re-targeted before entering the terminal phase, possibly allowing the missile to be diverted away from penetration aids and toward live warheads provided the missile has sufficient maneuverability.
Due to the ability of the missile to intercept targets beyond the range of the standard SW/ETS-970 and -971 radar sets carried by Elementario- and Johann A. Revil-class destroyers, it may be guided using information gathered from other nodes in the network. The SW/ETS-980 ballistic missile defense radar carried by the Karisimbi-class cruiser possesses sufficient range to employ the SAR-777 alone against missile or satellite targets.
Description
Seeker
The SAR-777 uses a combination of seeker-aided ground guidance, satellite/inertial guidance, and dual-color infrared guidance to detect and intercept targets. Immediately after launch, the missile is controlled via semi-active radar homing with a datalink to the launch platform, allowing the launch platform to provide guidance updates and process the radar returns. The onboard seeker is capable of independent active radar homing and also possesses cooperative engagement capability, allowing it to be guided by another platform in the network. In the event of datalink or radar illumination loss, the missile can automatically switch to active radar homing to pursue the target independently. This mode is also activated once in range of the target to provide a refined interception path prior to releasing the terminal kill vehicle. In addition, the onboard satellite/inertial guidance system can keep the missile on course in the event of guidance loss before the terminal phase, although this reduces the missile's effectiveness against maneuvering targets.
In the terminal stage, the missile activates its imaging infrared seeker housed in the HiSKI stage. The seeker generates an image of the target and is highly resistant to countermeasures. It is capable of determining an optimum point of impact and sensitive enough to pick up non-maneuvering satellites in orbit while discriminating against decoys and penetration aids. The seeker itself is derived from a design developed for the SAR-778AM1B ABM missile using technology derived from the dual-color seeker of the SAI-774 Sayaka SRAAM.
Warhead
The High-Speed Kinetic Impactor (HiSKI) comprises the fourth stage of the SAR-777 and is housed in the nosecone of the missile. After being boosted to intercept velocity and altitude by the first three stages, the HiSKI uses its built in attitude control motors to maneuver to directly impact the target with a closing speed of over 4.8 km/s. It is capable of high diversion rates to intercept maneuvering targets including maneuvering reentry vehicles. At impact the kill vehicle delivers sufficient energy to destroy practically any target, from ballistic missile RVs to aircraft to large satellites, largely thanks to its extreme kinetic energy.
Propulsion and control
The first three stages are composed of solid rocket motors, including a first stage booster to rapidly accelerate the missile upon launch, a second stage with a dual-thrust motor to maintain velocity, and the third stage motor to with attitude control motors to increase missile agility. The control motors were added following the takeover of the program by the JMDB to improve performance against maneuvering targets as the initial Air Forces program goals did not assume the targeted satellites would take defensive action against interception. The combined output of the three stages allows the missile to reach a burnout velocity of 4.8 km/s and engage targets up to 1,500 km in altitude.
The fourth stage is maneuvered by a smaller set of attitude control motors for terminal interception, allowing it to engage highly maneuverable targets due to the high burnout velocity. It is much smaller than the previous stages and is composed only of the seeker, processing systems, and motors, relying on kinetic energy for terminal effectiveness.
Maintenance and support
Madoka missiles are delivered as sealed all-up-rounds, either with boosters attached or in their air-launched configuration. Ground and sea-launched missiles can be loaded directly into their launch systems, and their storage canisters contain onboard diagnostic equipment that provides remote monitoring capability for ship and battery crews. Air launched units can be quickly decanned for flight and recanned if not expended, with a similar common interface for diagnostic equipment. Due to the sensitive electronics and machinery, defective or damaged missiles are not field-repairable and must be returned to the manufacturer for refurbishment.
Launch platform
The SAR-777 is one of the largest missiles fired from the Mark 18 vertical launch system or the WML-55 TEL, rivaled only by cruise and anti-ship missiles. For aircraft use it is used without its first stage booster, relying on the carrier aircraft to bring it up to sufficient altitude and speed for launch. As a result, this configuration is significantly lighter, making carriage by aircraft easier.
Operators
- Carthage
- Army of Carthage
- Carthage Air Forces
- Punic Navy
- Mark 18 vertical launch system
Japan
- Imperial Navy
Gensokyo Republic
- Republic Aerospace Corps
- Republic Navy