How the missile achieves missile lock is a function not
only of missile seeker but also of mid-course guidance.
Agreed that if a target is out of view of missile seeker, there
would be no possibility of it achieving missile lock. That applies
to any missile.
However, the assumption that the target would be out of view is
to assume that the ship guidance cannot bring the missile to an
intercept cone.
How many threats a FFG can handle is defined by its heading,
attacker vector, missile load of attacker vs defender, accuracy of
missile, intercept time. It is clear that the aster system has a
max limit of 32 targets (cos that's the no of missiles
equipping the frigate). Intercept times are improved as inbound
vamps approach the target.
The scenario envisages a lone ship. If there is more
than one frigate/corvette present, that allows allocation of task
to each threat vector. We also know that defending counter-air may
also be present. Lastly, the frigate also has other defences beyond
the aster (76mm, dagaie decoys, ew, etc).
How practical the assumptions/scenarios are in real life is
entirely subjective. I don't think the scenario is sufficient to
condemn the aster to mediocrity.
Not really, that applies to missile with a active radar seekers
particularly. SARH missiles may still reacquire via updates.
So his argument is not against ARH missiles in general but
that the MICA based seeker on the Aster being inferior due to its
restricted seeker view and range. Hence, the concept of an
ARH missile system for anti-missile defense isn't flawed, just the
missile.
Again, his argument is directed at the selection of the Aster
for the UK's leading AAW destroyer where the radar, processors and
missiles WILL have to work in a target saturated environment.
It may also be the one or two AAW DDG in a flotillar.
An anti-air warfare destroyer that cannot work in a target
saturated environment is essentially a piece of junk.
The formidable is a different story. It is not declared to
perform such a role, nor is such a threat (multiple inbound
supersonic anti-ship missiles from multiple threat axis) likely in
the near future. Most of the navies in the region have yet to
acquire such missiles and capabilities to target such missiles.
So to speak, the Formidable's Herakles/Aster combination
would unlikely to fail in such "low intensity" modes.