Most of the system will be common with the UK SSTD so the easier option would be to purchase the UK SSTD countermeasure fitout (which includes active decoys) rather than getting the Rafael system. Which I'm surprised the US hasn't done on other vessels....not sure what their current countermeasure fit out is. You have to wonder how well (if at all) the Sea Spider hardkill has been tested, I don't think anyone has bought it.ArmChairCivvy wrote:CAT is just half of the system, paired with TWS. For the CAT part you could buy Rafael's active decoy or a hard-kill system from Germany as replacements.
What surprises me about anti-torpedo systems is that hardkill is always another expensive torpedo. The Limbo mortar in years past could be used in an anti torpedo sense by dropping 3 great big depth charges in the path of a torpedo. The Swedish or Russian multiple launch depth charge systems launch a pattern of (admittedly) smaller contact fused depth charges out to a decent range. If we look at CAT in the same way that we look at tank APS there seems to be a shift from complex interceptors to cheaper munitions with decent sensors mounted on the vehicle. With SSTD the real cost is in the sensors and systems, perhaps pairing with cheaper depth charge style 'interceptors' would make more sense. At some point even a torpedo on S type path will straighten up for the run into a target, particularly if its a great big carrier making a hell of a lot of noise.