- Reaction score
- 12,589
- Points
- 1,160
Mini Missiles Used To Shoot Down Incoming Missiles Eyed For USAF Tanker Fleet
Tankers are increasingly vulnerable as enemy long-range missiles evolve, leading the USAF to explore 'hard kill' solutions.
"The U.S. Air Force is exploring new ways to protect aerial refueling tankers and other high-value support aircraft by physically defeating incoming threats rather than trying to jam them or otherwise throw them off course. The service says a “kinetic” self-defense option could provide a valuable last line of defense against anti-air interceptors that might be resistant or even immune to certain kinds of electronic warfare attacks or decoys."
And so is the USN
Navy Eyes 'Hard-Kill' Defenses For Transport, Tanker, and Possibly Unmanned Escort Planes
The service is looking for a system that launches interceptors at incoming missiles and could end up on more than half a dozen types of aircraft.

