Posted on 03/08/2011 4:21:31 AM PST by Errant
NORFOLK, Va. – A warship capable of detecting and shooting down ballistic missiles headed for the Mediterranean Sea on Monday as the U.S. started implementing its plan to protect Europe from a potential Iranian nuclear threat.
Sending the Norfolk-based USS Monterey to Europe is the first part of a four-phase plan to create a missile shield for the continent that was developed by the Obama administration in 2009 and approved by NATO in November.
The plan calls for placing land- and sea-based radars and interceptors in several European locations over the next decade and has drawn opposition from Russia, which worries the system could target Russian warheads or undermine their deterrence strategy.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
More likely an early phase of Obama’s re-election campaign.
Excuse me? The only thing the Obama did was to derail “the plan” that was already in place, kowtow to our enemies, and hang several former soviet potential allies out to dry.
and on that point about his derailing the plan already in place, you would be 100 correct.
BTW, those ageis ships were designed to defend our fleets, not a point defense. If jackass ears had thought that through, he should not have defunded the point defenses negotiated by Bush for Poland. So, this is a nothing more than a “what the hell can we do moment” and someone come up with this plan. Since this ship is not going to be at sea for years on end, it is not an efficient resource use either IMO.
Smoke and mirrors.
But .....but .....but our USofN is THE Global Force for Good! Right??
“the U.S. started implementing its plan to protect Europe from a potential Iranian nuclear threat.”
Are we receiving payments from Europe to defray our costs for protecting them?
Don’t forget the gratitude of France...
And Europe cannot defend itself from a potential Iranian nuclear missile threat beacause....?
With a descent CinC it is.
Joint Japan-U.S. Missile Defense Flight Test Successful
The JFTM-4 test event verified the newest engagement capability of the Japan Aegis BMD configuration of the recently upgraded Japanese destroyer, JS KIRISHIMA. At approximately 5:06 p.m. (HST), 12:06 p.m. Tokyo time on Oct. 29, 2010, a separating 1,000 km class ballistic missile target was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii.JS KIRISHIMA crew members detected and tracked the target. The Aegis Weapon System then developed a fire control solution and launched a Standard Missile -3 (SM-3) Block IA missile. Approximately three minutes later, the SM-3 successfully intercepted the target approximately 100 miles above the Pacific Ocean. JFTM-4 is a significant milestone in the growing cooperation between Japan and the U.S. in the area of missile defense.
Yeah, she really is a beauty. Have to admit though, I thought she was an Arleigh Burke at first. Is she a Block II or a Block III Tico? I don’t have an up to date Janes’ so I have no idea now what have become of the CGNs.
Good question. I like our European allies, certainly don't want to see them nuked by Iran. However, as I understood it, the big radar and GBIs former President Bush was planning on putting in Europe would have also defended us (the US), against the developing Iranian ICBM threat.
For my own reasons I'm admittedly a big fan of the AEGIS weapons system and the SM-3. Maybe it's just the idea of going literally from sea level to space that tickles my fancy. Heck, I may even buy a little Raytheon stock (maker of the SM-3) if obama continues to pursue this strategy. Anyway, great missile, big plans for it. Fine. But it is not as big nor as capable as the GBIs - that would've defended us too. When it comes to missiles, size matters. Bigger means more fuel, more total impulse, and better speed, altitude and range. That translates into a bigger engagement envelop, and a higher probability of kill against any given threat. ICBMs by definition fly faster and higher than regional theater threats. That makes them a tougher intercept.
Ok, I admit I do like the idea of more shots - more SM-3s as compared to the number of GBIs they were looking at. Hmm, maybe I will buy that Raytheon stock... ;-)
The Global Force for Good could be the Global Force for Freedom (of the Seas) if it went back to its roots and started exterminating the scourge of piracy. Just sayin’. Yes, it’s a CinC problem.
Iran does not have an ICBM that can reach the U.S., and likely will never have one.
How big of a difference was there between the SM-3 and the GBIs? If the SM-3 can reach from sea level to space, how much farther can a GBI reach?
Actually, on second thought, don’t answer that if it’s going to be an OpSec issue. I just didn’t understand how much higher you can go than “Sea level to Space”.
Regardless of the performance issues and security issues, it is rather obvious that the capability of our sea based platforms to detect, engage and destroy these types of threats is good enough to establish a presense to take care of these contingencies...
Its a good role for these ships...I just hope they are not standing wtch alone...Someone should be watching their back, while they watch the skies...And I am sure that is being taken care of as well...Better be...
Technically, they have one now. They've lofted a small satellite into low earth orbit. Therefore their missile system has the range to reach the US. Granted, it was a very lightweight payload. I've seen estimates on the web that the satellite was on the order of 50 to 60 lbs. A warhead would be significantly heavier, but then, it doesn't have to achieve orbital velocity either.
Iran continues to improve their missiles, extend their capability. A vehicle that can put a heavier satellite into LEO can easily deliver an even heavier warhead on a ballistic trajectory at ICBM ranges... Make no mistake, they want the capability to strike at their perceived enemies - all of them, including us.
I for one would rather not sit here defenseless in the face of a growing threat. We've put a lot of money into missile defense. Seen some successes, and a few misses. I say lets finish what we've started, and deploy the systems.
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