It seems to me that the US is in the habit of having two or three programs that strive for similar goals and which can be merged into one system.
1) PAC-3 and SM-3. These two could have been one system. Or at least, the SM-3 could have used the PAC-3 airframe. It'll certainly fit into the Mk41 cell envelope. And it is arguably better than relying on the 40 year old TARTAR airframe.
2) THAAD can actually be a land and naval system the 37cm by 6 m THAAD airframe fits neatly into the Mk41 envelope too. And there is no reason why some variation of the missile cannot be put to sea.
3) The ESSM should have been a navalized AMRAAM from the beginning.
I am not saying that there aren't technical issues with adapting one system to another use, but whatever it is it'll be more economical than have two separate developments with similar objectives. |