Supersonic 8-path Kinetic Anti-Ship Missile

Many defense experts express alarm at the new generation of supersonic anti-ship missiles, like the Russian Sunburn. However, high speed degrades missile targeting since a supersonic missile will have just seconds to identify a ship target. In addition, a missile with small stub wings can barely turn at Mach. Rear thrusters can be used, like those used by American TOW missiles and larger National Missile Defense interceptors. Nevertheless, the incoming missile needs to be nearly on target already to achieve impact. Another factor is that these complex missiles cost a million dollars each and 10% malfunction. Finally, sophisticated decoy systems can be employed to confuse missile sensors, perhaps causing a missile already on target to veer off.

One solution is a Supersonic 8-path "Super 8" anti-ship missile. This will be a simple supersonic missile with a jet engine and no warhead or sensor. It will be the same size of a Tomahawk missile (right), but will replace the 1000 lb high-explosive warhead with 1000 lbs more fuel, allowing greater dash speed and range. A Super 8 will be less expensive than sensor-guided Tomahawks as they have no sensor or warhead, they are just a rogue engine flying about causing panic and occasionally colliding with a ship.

A Super 8 will fly a pre-set distance at an economical speed from where it was launched from a bomber, fighter, or ship. It will accelerate as it approaches the target area just ten feet off the ocean surface at around 800 mph. After passing though the target area, it will slow and make a wide turn and then accelerate through the target area again at top speed, then loop around again for another high-speed pass. It will fly these eight-tracks until it runs out of fuel and falls into the ocean. Ideally, it will slam into a ship at supersonic speed, causing massive damage and starting fires as its remaining fuel ignites. Keep in mind that a jet engine is a dense object that will cause much damage at supersonic impact, and a Super-8 will carry a three-foot tungsten-incendiary penetrator rod to punch deep inside a ship and set fire to whatever it encounters. Some Super 8s may also perform reconnaissance by carrying a video camera to broadcast what they find.

Ship defenses will not be able to blind or confuse a Super 8 as it flies a preprogrammed 8-path. Even if a Super 8 does not hit a ship, it will cause much panic and confusion as it weaves through a fleet formation, probably causing friendly fire damage among the ships and its fighter aircraft. In addition, ships will exhaust their stores of decoys and defensive munitions attempting to destroy these high-speed interlopers. As a result, dozens of simple Super 8s should be launched against a fleet to arrive just prior to the slower and more sophisticated anti-ship missiles using sensor guidance. Fleet defenses will be exhausted and confused engaging the Super 8s attacking from all directions to focus on the slower and deadlier sensor guided missiles. Super 8 missiles can cause much chaos among a fleet, especially if a few slam into ships.