On: US Air Force B-52 bomber crashes after takeoff, Edwards Air Force Base says

[jonnybgood]

One does not simply take out a SAM system with a cruise missile, especially when that SAM system can also target the cruise missile. So how do you get a cruise missile to launch from the right spot where the SAM system radar can’t see it coming?

[runjake → jonnybgood]

By using low-observable ("stealth") cruise missiles that fly at extremely low altitudes using terrain avoidance radar.

[JumpCrisscross → runjake]

> using low-observable ("stealth") cruise missiles that fly at extremely low altitudes using terrain avoidance radar

Do we have this class of anti-radiation weapon?

[AnimalMuppet → JumpCrisscross]

I'm pretty sure we have this class of cruise missile. It can be used as an anti-radiation weapon if you point it at a location that has a radar on it.

If the radar is mobile, that means that you need a true anti-radiation missile, but SAM radars aren't mobile, are they?

[m4rtink → AnimalMuppet]

Sure they are - the s300 system for example can be redployed quite rapidly & some like Buk have the radar even integrated with the launcher.

Also only the radar really transmits, so even if you hit it the, separate launchers might still be intact & guided by another radar if you don't destroy them.

This is why modern remotely guided middle strike drones are so dangerous for SAMs - they can basically search an area for all the SAM system components and destroy them all or most of them. Potentially much more effective than a homing missile hitting just the radar at maximum.