America's Missile Defense Systems: The Ultimate Paper Tiger?

The National Interest ^ | February 11, 2018 | Sebastien Roblin

[sparklite2]

On the morning of January 31, 2018, an Aegis Ashore missile battery based in Kauai, Hawaii cued onto an approaching intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). The installation launched an SM-3 Block IIA missile to intercept the IRBM at speeds over fifteen times the speed of sound.

However, the MDA was also obliged to report that the SM-3 failed to hit the oncoming target—the second failure in a row out of three Block IIA tests conducted since February 2017.

[buckalfa]

"The experience of the Israelis suggests otherwise, and we share technology with them."

Yes indeed, but shooting down ICBMs is a bit more complicated than shooting down a SCUD.

Also how much of the US Military is in paper tiger status? Nine years of budget cuts, 17 years of war, and diversity training over readiness?

[zeestephen]

Re: “How do you defend against a drone swarm launched from a container ship...”

Sink the ship?

Actually, I’ve been asking that same question since drone technology became a commercial business five years ago.

I don’t think you need a “swarm.”

I think any legitimately registered cargo vessel could put a tactical nuke over the White House or Wall Street any time it wants to.

I mean, would a low flying drone with a tiny heat signature even show up on radar?

[zeestephen]

Thanks.

I assumed that an offensive warhead needs flight control after it reenters the atmosphere.

My point was that destroying any part of the flight controls should put the warhead into a violent spin.

If I understand you correctly, the kinetic energy of two missiles making contact is so intense the offensive warhead is destroyed no matter what part of the reentry vehicle is struck.

By the way, I grew up during the Cold War, and I remember our efforts to create a nuclear-tipped anti-missile system very well.

[where's_the_Outrage?]

One thing that would help IMHO is to cut MDA overhead at least in half. That monstrosity has almost grown into another Pentagon. Don't believe it? Just checkout the MDA facilities in Huntsville AL. All those offices and buildings are overhead, not operational units.

[doorgunner69]

we’re a few years from having them as the regular “kit” on ships.

Just like the railgun, eh?

Popular Mechanix has been printing that stuff for decades. The laser now in an experimental installation has no capability to do anything but destroy small soft targets.

Was even some clown here that claimed we had particle beam weapons deployed.

[Reily]

I just repeating what is claimed in the press.
There’s supposed to be is installing one for operational testing on of the Gulf fleet ships. Again from a press release, it may be all bull crap!

[KC_for_Freedom]

In the THAAD system, any contact with the warhead and the kill vehicle at the intercept speeds they use results in both being blasted into particles. No warhead to tumble into the target, it is gone.

[doorgunner69]

That experimental unit in the gulf is only useful for relatively slow moving soft targets. Absolutely no capability against missiles. Helos, maybe, fast moving jets, no.

Should be able to stir-fry muzzies in their little boats, if we let them use it.

[Reily]

Ok then

[clearcarbon]

"I think we read about a number of successes too, but the MSM is just hyping the unsuccessful tests."

The LMSM never allows an opportunity to assist out adversaries slip away.

[Rashputin]

"To think we had space based lazer defense systems when Reagan was prez."

No, we had detailed plans for one.

[trebb]

I must have missed where we had working space-based lasers under Reagan...one of the concepts of SDI (Star Wars) was laser systems but many of the SDI concepts were just that - concepts.