Why Vietnam is eyeing Israel's Deliah missile

Possessing many special features such as being able to fly around to choose the optimal target, 99% accuracy... are the reasons why Vietnam wants to buy Deliah missiles.

The Delilah missile was researched and manufactured by Israel Military Industries (IMI) based on a type of "fake target" used to distract enemy air defenses.

Delilah has many different versions, besides the air-to-ground version, Delilah also has a ground-to-ground variant when deployed from a mobile launcher mounted on an off-road truck. Delilah can even be combined with guided rocket munitions such as EXTRA or AccuLAR (already in service with the Vietnam People's Army) to create a multi-layered attack system.

Delilah's specifications. Photo: Defense-studies.com

According to IMI's announcement, the Delilah air-to-ground missile weighs 187kg, has a 30kg warhead, is 2.71m long, has a wingspan of 1.15m, and a body diameter of 0.33m. Delilah is equipped with a small turbojet engine that ensures a wide range of flight speeds from 0.3 - 0.7Mach. When the missile attacks the target in a diving position, the speed can increase to subsonic, which is about 0.85 - 0.9Mach.

Outstanding features

- Destroy targets from a long distance: Despite its small size, the Delilah air-to-ground missile has an attack range of up to 250km and flies at an altitude of 11,000m. Experts say that this altitude helps the Delilah missile avoid detection by enemy air defenses.

Delilah missile. Photo: Wikimedia.org

- Ability to operate against many different types of targets: Delilah is a reconnaissance/attack missile equipped with a jet engine that allows it to both scout and destroy targets.

Delilah uses a GPS satellite navigation system or its own inertial navigation system. It is therefore capable of engaging targets from concealed launch positions, allowing precise targeting and rapid engagement of armored or unarmored, mobile or stationary targets in all weather conditions, day and night, and at various ranges.

- High target destruction efficiency: According to IMI's announcement, the missile's circular error in hitting the target is no more than 1m, and in some tests, this error has even decreased to only 0.4m.

When using dual flight correction (GPS and optical sensor), the optical sensor in the final flight phase of the target attack will detect deviation from the target, then the on-board computer will steer the missile to perform a repeat attack.

The missile will then circle in maximum flight mode until it receives an attack command (and if necessary, according to the flight program), and if the mission is canceled, it will self-destruct.

Attack method

In the initial phase, when an attack order is given, the missile control system will be activated to correct the flight path to the target. The on-board computer will calculate many combat options for the missile, and continuously compare it with terrain surface images to correct the missile's flight path. This information can be loaded into the missile's memory even while in flight.

Delilah missile. Photo: Wikipedia.org

In the final stage of its trajectory, the missile uses homing mode. Before crashing into the target at subsonic speed, the target's coordinates are set into Delilah's flight control program memory and the missile continuously connects to the global positioning system (GPS) to correct its flight path to the target so that Delilah can achieve an accuracy of within one meter.

With such superior features, Vietnam can completely consider equipping this type of missile for Su-22 attack aircraft, Su-27/30MK2 fighter aircraft, and even Ka-28 helicopters. Thereby improving the air-to-ground combat capability of the Air Force in the coming time.

According to Tintuc.vn