The Russian "killer of aircraft carriers"
With all its advantages, "Dagger" is a very expensive weapon. Experts believe that it is more expensive than conventional cruise missiles, but not more expensive than ballistic nuclear missiles. Approximately at the level of "Iskander". What tasks can the given complex solve?
"It is primarily an anti-ship complex, its main task is to quickly enter the launch area and launch a missile to hit rocket-propelled vehicles, such as Arly Burke class destroyers, Ticonderoga-type strike cruisers or even aircraft carriers. from the military unit that will be installed there, penetrating type or more powerful nuclear, the targets may vary, "Leonkov said.
"This complex is really a dagger type, which at one stroke takes the whole ship out of order.The missile will start outside the air defense zone, and when it reaches its high-speed parameters, this zone will no longer matter for it,"
- the expert added.
According to Leonkov, the "Dagger" complex allows, for example, to disrupt the deployment of the fleet forces for striking our territory. "It is clear that if it is produced, then at the maximum distance from the zone of application of our coastal defense equipment to ensure security. Imagine a military commander who deploys a grouping, but does not have such security, at any moment there can be a blow that will deprive him of important elements of the fleet, and he will not fulfill the task.In these conditions, it is very controversial and difficult to make any offensive actions with the help of the Navy, "the source said.
Leonkov did not rule out using Dagger for ground targets, because if the question of aiming at ships is resolved, then he can shoot on the ground. "But it must be understood that this is a strategic ammunition and can not be used anywhere." It should be especially important military infrastructure objects, for example, missile launching sites, headquarters, command posts, communication points, can also be used for airfields, naval bases , destroy logistics, railway junctions, "he explained.
Anton Lavrov also believes that the Dagger is aimed specifically at fighting aircraft carriers. "This is its maximum benefit. It is problematic to repel massive strikes by winged strikes against ground targets and without hypersound, but the fight against carrier-based strike groups is quite a difficult task for us," he stressed.