Iran would be a prime candidate. And with a large helo heading for the launch location fast, it looks like a hurried effort the neutralize a sub.
So that was a large Helo headed to launch point ? Last night someone speculated it was an F16. It does look like a Helo. Would be better if it was the Iranians. We can handle them. The Chinese are another story. And if it was the Chinese we should assume they used a Nork sub with one of their missiles.
Is it possible that the US just tested its first super sonic cruise missile ? Headed out at a low angle to the west. Needed some sunlight to film its operation ? Wonder it it was a successful test ? Just speculating.
Joint SuperSonic Cruise Missile (JSSCM)
In April 2002 the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) solicited information from missile system integrators and other interested parties on technology available for a transformational approach to providing an affordable Supersonic Cruise Missile (SSCM) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD). The SSCM ACTD will culminate in a technology demonstration of a supersonic cruise missile system capable of functionally disabling time sensitive Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) targets, hardened and deeply buried WMD targets, or both. Time sensitive WMD targets are broadly classified as those posing imminent threat of conducting or supporting hostile attack (or re-attack) on U.S. or allied forces or civilian population centers. Government sponsorship of the SSCM ACTD includes DTRA, the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), with additional international participation.
Key performance parameters for the SSCM ACTD include but are not limited to: (a) terminal accuracy of 3 meters Circular Error Probable (CEP) or better, excluding Target Location Error (good weather, no jamming); (b) a range of at least 400 nautical miles with a goal of at least 600 nautical miles; (c) a cruising speed of at least Mach 3.5 with a goal of Mach 4.5 or better; (d) for any air-launched demonstration variant, a maximum all-up-round launch weight of less than 2000 lbs. with a goal of 1800 lbs.; (e) warhead penetration capability of at least 10 meters with a goal of 15 meters or better through 5 ksi concrete; (f) soft target kill capability and bio-defeat fill compatibility; and (g) a strike planning, preparation, and launch duration, from receipt of target coordinates for mission planning to physical weapon release/exit from the launch platform, of less than 6 minutes.