Flawed is a highly subjective word. Its like saying the AIM-9M
is flawed cos it can see only X deg and has a range of Y
km whereas the AIM-9X can see X+15 deg and has a range of Y+15 km.
There are limitations. All missiles have.
The scenario highlighted is a crossing vamp rather than an
inbound vamp so how likely a target saturated scenario will involve
only crossing vamps is not exactly clear.
The explanation of 4 missile limitation was not really
explained. Accepting it at face value is an assumption.
As to launching 4 or more long range anti-ship
missiles at a time at a target from 2 a/c or more flying differing
vectors, I think many airforces in this region have the
capability. That includes RMAF (F-18s with AGM-84s, Migs/Suks with
KH-31). RTAF (AGM-84s). VNAF/IAF/PLAAF/ID-TNI (Su-30s with KH-31s,
Chinese H-6s/J-10/JH-7s with C-602s, C-803s).
Yes, these are missiles' limitations. What he contends is
that there are better missiles such as AMRAAM based ones that have
better FOV and seeker capabilities. He's on a crusade against
the Aster so to speak.
Contentious on two points. Firstly, his argument at the
end of the day is that the Aster is not good enough to be the PAAMs
of the UK's type 45 AAW Destroyer. AAW Destroyers are meant
to provide anti-air and anti-missile cover for a flotilla its
escorting. Hence its capabilities HAVE to be able to deal
with high aspect crossing shots from multiple threat axes.
Secondly, in three dimensional terms, even inbound shots are
"crossing" shots. This is because the computers drive these
ARH missiles to a point where it has maximum energy to make a
pure-pursuit intercept. Hence missiles will usually be shot
up and above the target's altitude so that it can "dive" down for
the intercept. The high-aspect crossing would come from the point
where the missile is trying to look down and acquire the target
with its own active radar.
The concern is not really subsonic anti-ship missiles in
saturation. The concern he raises is about multiple
supersonic AShMs from different directions. The speed which
the AShMs travel and the number of directions, he argues, overloads
the processing capability to direct the Asters to an appropriate
intercept. Driving them to a point either too late or too
early; therein, causing the limited FOV seeker of the Aster to not
acquire the target.