Posted on 08/18/2017 6:48:23 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Recent developments indicate that North Korea is on the verge of fielding a nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of striking the continental United States. These recent trends—punctuated by an active test program—make North Korea the most likely ballistic missile threat facing the United States today.
Countering Pyongyang’s threat requires a shift in strategy from an exclusive reliance on midcourse intercept for homeland defense to the fielding of boost-phase intercept capabilities as a part of the nation’s layered missile defense. The U.S. Navy is most able to deliver such a capability in the near future.
North Korea Ups the Ante
The combination of concerns over North Korea’s continuing missile program and recent aggressive behavior has made the country one of the United States' prime national security threats. North Korea conducted five nuclear tests between 2006 and 2016, launched satellites into orbit in December 2012 and February 2016, and expanded its missile tests under Kim Jong-Un.
(Excerpt) Read more at usni.org ...
It would have to be really fast.
Once upon a time, we had a 747 with a mondo laser in the nose to nail during the boost phase.
Would be great to hit it so early in the boost phase that the fallout footprint stayed in N. Korea.
And really close!
That was the plan but laser physics is tough. It’s hard to keep it focused for the ranges needed to stand off and shoot down enemy launches. Perhaps that will improve with future tech.
Cancelled by the phony American, President Obama.
And the thing was working too.
Cancelled by the phony American, President Obama. And the thing was working too.
Maybe Trump can re-activate the program.....and use it for AF1 also.
An ICBM starts out with a lot of propellant so it is slower than a shorter range missile needs to be. This should give the basic speed advantage to the interceptor.
Add in exo-atmospheric engagement just for fun.
“Airborne Laser.” It was a test platform. Program was terminated, never fielded.
As long as Swamp believes its incompetence is "masterful inaction," we won't go anywhere.
Deep State are overrated as warmongers. They love a small war not a real one which has to be fought. Whining big money donors won't allow it.
They are not arch-evil but a bunch of sanctimonious greedy cowards who are only powerful enough to squash ordinary people, but not much more.
Yes, it was the airborne laser project, I worked on it at the very beginning. It was very promising but it was finally killed by 0bama.
I have that picture in my stack of stuff somewhere along with an original YAL-1A uniform patch.
Nice!
Whatever the technology, I’m sure Raytheon (RTN) will be involved.
I bought RTN stock in 2003, just as the Iraq war started, and it’s gone up like 500%.
I also bought Boeing (BA) at the same time. Same story. :)
Boost phase kill is best, slow, predictable path, lots of fuel to blow up. Only time you can keep the beam on target for any length of time long enough to matter. Nice clear air up high.
Lasers are all about dwell time, a fact that escapes the Popular Mechanix crowd that see it as an instantaneous death ray.
Where are the Norks getting ICBMs? They aren’t home grown.
China? Russia? Iran?
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