Mysterre
Banned Idiot
re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer
I have never denied that there are LR, MR and SR layers of defense. What I am pointing out is that the "medium range" layer does not have an actual tactical reason to exist; it exists because for other reasons, there are such things as medium range SAM's. As I said, if the SM-2 had a very small minimum range and could be quad-packed, you would never see any ESSM's being loaded by AB's or Tico's. Similarly, if the ESSM could increase its range to 100+ km and still be quad-packable and keep its current minimum range, there would be no medium range layer as far as the USN is concerned. One more time, a medium range air defense layer exists only because some missiles are constrained to only have a medium range for reasons which I have already mentioned, none of which have anything to do with creating a medium range air defense layer for its own sake.
There is nothing wrong with Jeff's diagram. What's inaccurate is your interpretation of the reasoning behind it. Your usage of terminology is also unique to yourself.Jeff's diagram illustrated a point in a clear graphical manner. If you choose not to accept that point then so be it, no need to come up with a better looking one!
In naval terms, fleet defense is the equivalent of theater defense, and for USN, that's being fulfilled by the latest Standard missile series. I am sure you can look that up, too. As for what defines SR vs. MR AAW missiles, i don't believe you can find that in the latest edition Oxford. They do, however cross over at some point, no? Let it be 25, 30 or 50, something 6 km longer will always cross over that boundary so there is nothing ridiculous on that logic.
I have never denied that there are LR, MR and SR layers of defense. What I am pointing out is that the "medium range" layer does not have an actual tactical reason to exist; it exists because for other reasons, there are such things as medium range SAM's. As I said, if the SM-2 had a very small minimum range and could be quad-packed, you would never see any ESSM's being loaded by AB's or Tico's. Similarly, if the ESSM could increase its range to 100+ km and still be quad-packable and keep its current minimum range, there would be no medium range layer as far as the USN is concerned. One more time, a medium range air defense layer exists only because some missiles are constrained to only have a medium range for reasons which I have already mentioned, none of which have anything to do with creating a medium range air defense layer for its own sake.
