The first test of a sea-based cruise missile of the "Tomahok" type from a land range, carried out the other day in the United States, was announced as a "launch from a mobile platform" was an expected event. Unlike other types of shorter and medium-range missiles, it would not be difficult for the Americans to transfer a naval missile system, albeit strictly non-nuclear (there is no corresponding modification, and even more so for it charges). The task of creating a self-propelled or towed mobile launcher is certainly within the reach of the Americans. But, looking at the photos and videos of this event, there is a feeling that much more was expected than it turned out in reality.
The launch was carried out from the site on the island of San Nicholas off the coast of California at a distance of just over 500 km and was declared successful, and, for sure, it was - "Tomahok" has long been worked out. The launch was carried out from the site where work was underway to develop a number of missile defense systems, in particular, the Israeli Hetz-3 (Arrow-3) system. After the test, some "made a discovery" that this site, from where they launched, has existed since 2015, and they say that this indicates the preparation of the Americans to withdraw from the INF Treaty and actions after it from that time. No, because the site was built for someone else. And it’s not the site, but the launcher. If you can call it that.
Done on the knee
The Americans have not shown any real mobile launcher, they obviously do not have it yet. They showed the launch of a naval missile launcher from a part of the Mk41 vertical naval launcher module mounted on a simple trailer, the appearance of which speaks of commercial use. It feels like this launcher is just standing on the trailer, and nothing else. Of course, it was, nevertheless, fixed there. It is impossible to use this artifact, whipped together according to the recipe of the famous song by Alena Apina, as a combat PU. It's not even a PU demonstrator. This is a demonstrator of the possibility of launching from land, but who doubted it?
But on the other hand, they did not forget to hang the US flag more, strongly reminding our feral Svidomo "non-brothers" from the territory of Ukraine. They also love "peremogs" made "of cones and acorns", and they like to hide the wretchedness of what they pass as "new" guided missiles, now as "anti-ship missiles" with large-sized zhovto-blakit panels. So here too - the flag was intended to smooth out the effect of the fact that, in fact, the Americans have nothing yet, except, of course, the most non-nuclear missile launcher and the possibility of launching it from the Mk41 UVP and on land, which no one doubted. Even American experts immediately began to criticize the Pentagon for such a wretched demonstration.
Nobody prepared?
Looking at this sad sight, I somehow do not believe at all in the stories of our Defense Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and even the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and the President of Russia that the Americans were preparing ahead of time to withdraw from the INF Treaty. Maybe they were preparing morally and politically, but not technically. Probably, the Pentagon and its contractors slept in shafts in the stable all this time of preparation, or were busy with something else that they did not even work on the creation of a launcher for the long-existing CD. And they demanded from the White House "to do at least something and show the world", so they "blinded from what was" in a hurry.
The Pentagon itself, in general, realizing how wretched it looked what was shown, hastened to get better that the system is "at the very initial stage of testing" and it will take "a lot of time" to fine-tune it. Of course, the Americans will create a launcher, there is no doubt about that. The question is when.
Negative effect
At the same time, the Americans, in general, achieved a negative effect with this launch. No one doubted the very possibility for the Tomahok to fly from land, as well as take off from the Mk41. And the confirmation of this fact, the pros end, but the minuses begin.
First, they untie the hands of Russia even more, and one should not be surprised if, literally in a few days, something of an average range will fly with us, ballistic or winged. NOTAMs issued in the coming days speak of the likelihood of launching something intercontinental, but with a gliding winged unit on the Southern test route from Kapustin Yar to Sary-Shagan, something, possibly anti-missile, in the north (say, "Nudol"), and something that, after studying NOTAM, can be mistaken for something just medium-range. But, in general, these are just assumptions. If it doesn't happen this time, soon it will definitely be all the same.
Secondly, the Americans showed that on this topic "the horse did not roll," which is certainly bad. Although, on the other hand, it pours water on the mill of the American position - "we did not violate anything in the INF Treaty, unlike the Russians." Yes, in this matter, probably, and the truth was not violated - but violations and so were enough.
Third, by launching a cruise missile from the Mk41 ground module, the Pentagon only confirmed the Russian propaganda thesis that the Tomahok missile launcher could be launched from the Aegis Ashore missile defense system deployed in Eastern Europe. It is propagandistic because the placement of as many as 8-16 missiles in 1-2 launchers available there (if we throw out all the SM-3 anti-missile missiles from there) KR in non-nuclear equipment has no military meaning. Moreover, in a stationary launcher with absolutely zero security - the Americans were too lazy to even install them deeply. But the United States denied that it was in these Mk41 modules that Tomahokas could be installed, and now, it turns out, they have caught themselves in a lie. Although, of course, they can declare that this is "not the same" module as at the ABM bases, Russia will declare the opposite, and so on.
Endless story
In general, everything is bad with this missile defense system. Take not Aegis Ashore, but the GMD system. As you know, in the not so long ago presented "Review of ABM Policy" it was declared the additional deployment of another 20 GBI interceptor missiles (in addition to 44), but with a new redesigned RKV interceptor. But the other day there was news - the RKV program, which spent more than $ 1 billion, was closed. There will be a new competition for a new interceptor. That is, everything turned out in about the same way as it already happened. After all, the Americans already planned to place new EKV interceptors on the first 44 GBIs, then there were plans to create a multiple warhead with multiple MKV interceptors - but all these plans were canceled in due time for various reasons. Of course, pre-development money went in and out. Now it's the turn of the RKV. And there the new interceptor will be "hacked to death" in due time.
However, the Americans now also want a new anti-missile to replace the GBI, apparently realizing that they will not be able to intercept real intercontinental missiles even in greenhouse conditions. But how long will it take? Many. And the result is not guaranteed. However, here, obviously, all interested parties are much more interested in the process than in the result. It seems that with the epic around the INF Treaty, the process is also much more important than the deed and the result. But for Russia, this is undoubtedly good.
