Point-defence
Point defence is the defence of a single object or a limited area, e.g. a ship, building or an airfield, now usually against air attacks and guided missiles. Point defence weapons have a smaller range in contrast to area-defence systems and are placed near or on the object to be protected.
Point defence may include:
- Short-ranged interceptor aircraft
- Close-in weapon systems on ships, or C-RAM on land installations
- Directed-energy weapons, such as high-energy lasers or microwave beams
- Land-based short-ranged anti-aircraft guns or surface-to-air missile systems
- Active protection systems on tanks or other armoured fighting vehicles
Examples
Aircraft
- Bachem Ba 349 Natter – vertical take-off rocket powered crewed interceptor
- Convair XF-92 – Later used as testbed for later projects.
- F-14 ADC – Proposed interceptor for the USAF Air Defense Command.
- Junkers EF 009 Hubjäger – Proposed interceptor with 10 radially placed turbojet engines.
- Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet – World War II-era operational German rocket powered interceptor.
- NR-349 – Proposed Improved Manned Interceptor replacement for the F-101, F-102 and F-106.
Close-in weapons systems
- Goalkeeper CIWS – Gun CIWS in current service by the Dutch navy.
- Phalanx CIWS – 20 mm Vulcan cannon mounted on a swivelling base. Notably used on almost all major surface combatants of the US Navy.
- Kashtan CIWS – Gun-Missile CIWS in current service by the Russian navy.
- Type 730 – in current use by the Chinese Navy.
Directed-energy weapons
- DragonFire – UK-built high energy laser.
- HELIOS - US-built high energy laser
Surface-to-air missile systems
- RIM-116 RAM – Missile CIWS in current use by the US Navy.
- Barak 1 – Israeli point defence missile.
- VL-SRSAM – Indian point and area defence missile.
Active Protection Systems
- Arena APS – a Russian point defence system for individual armoured vehicles.
- Trophy APS - an Israeli APS in service with the IDF.