Layered naval air defence increasingly requires attackers to be engaged and destroyed. Hiding is difficult when an escort must protect merchant ships or an aircraft carrier with a large radar return. The E-2 Hawkeye, dated here to 1964, improves long-range detection in the 1966 comparison. Various fighters form another layer, preceding the later F-14. Talos remains the long-range area-defence missile, with a quoted reach of 50 nautical miles or 92 km.
Chapter · 2:19:02-2:20:39
Hawkeye, fighters and Talos in the 1966 defence layers
Early warning and longer-range weapons support a defence that increasingly needs to destroy attackers before they reach conspicuous convoys or carriers.