Smollett said the interceptors were aimed at him, and inscribed with MAGA.
Posted on 03/29/2019 7:41:35 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Missiles shot from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base successfully destroyed an airborne target Monday (March 25) as part of a U.S. missile defense test...
The target was an intercontinental ballistic missile launched from the Reagan Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, about 4,000 miles (6,440 kilometers) from Vandenberg.
During the test, sensors in space, on the ground and at sea helped guide two ground-based interceptors (GBI) fired from Vandenberg. The first interceptor destroyed the target, a re-entry vehicle, while the second one searched the remaining debris for other threatening objects. Since there were no re-entry vehicles in the debris, the second missile hit the next "most lethal object" in the wreckage and also destroyed it...
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
Raytheon, among many contributors. It’s hard to hit a bullet with a bullet.
The Left used to make fun of this. They derisively labeled it Star Wars and called Reagan a fool for his foresight in wanting to develop this capability. Now our nation’s security depends on it.
Let’s start churning out these interceptors like Chips Ahoy cookies, by the dozens each month. The more we have, the less likely we can be blackmailed by nuts like Kim. The Russians and Chinese wouldn’t dare launch nukes anyway, lest they lose their civilizations in the inevitable retaliation...but I worry about those commanding (shithole countries) with nothing to lose. Plus, of course, these things can take down an accidental launch of 1 or a few missiles which, given enough time, will occur.
Minor typos aside, it was an interesting test. Note they say "...threat-representative ICBM target..." and they did plan on (and execute) firing two interceptors at it. While I'm sure part of the test was intended to verify their ability to communicate with multiple interceptors simultaneously... That threat-representative phrase and the double-tap tell me maybe they thought the first interceptor might miss. I wonder just what they put up there as the threat? Whatever it was, the really good news is that the radars on the surface and the seeker on the interceptor's "kill vehicle" were not fooled. To me that is the most important tidbit out of this. Yes, comms are important, yes hitting something going at ICBM velocity is important... But finding the RV when maybe the threat guys were trying to hide it somehow??? That's a subtle message to NK and Iran - you can't get past us.
Hitting a bullet with a bullet. That’s nice. But what about the important stuff? Like rampant racism, homophobia and misogyny? And Jussie! Don’t forget Jussie! (/liberal)
Smollett said the interceptors were aimed at him, and inscribed with MAGA.
If you have ever watched an interceptor launch you will see that the entire missile is painted, ... wait for it... WHITE!
Hitting ballistic missles is a big yawn. All show.
It is still just a Republucan jobs program.
Until landscape hugging cruise missles are destroyed 99% of the time, then don’t sell your bomb shelter.
I’ve advocated a continental missile shield since before Reagan and Star Wars. If they can’t hit and cripple us with a first strike they are writing their own death warrant.
But it’s no help against missiles fired from a container ship or a nuke aboard a vessel docked at one of our seaports. And in those cases it would not be (immediately) clear against whom we should strike back.
I was near (~300 meters) when an Iron Dome battery lit off unexpectedly (to me).
They are LOUD. I believe the ordinance hits supersonic pretty much at the launchpad. The sonic boom knocked me on my ass.
Or, it could have been the glass of wine I was enjoying sitting on my friends back porch. We ran for the wine cellar. Had time to bring the open bottle, of course.
The most devastating advantage for an enemy is the capability to destroy satellites. Take a few of them out, and the game starts over with basic skills and arms. We are relying far too much on electronics.
I absolutely agree... And not just the military.
Flyswatter Ping
WOW!!
This country was scared s#!tless a year ago when we feared that NK was obtaining a viable ICBM capability. The whistle actually blew in Hawaii.
A truly effective missile defense system must be able to deal with all threats including ballistic missiles.
Until landscape hugging cruise missiles are destroyed 99% of the time, then don’t sell your bomb shelter.
Dealing with cruise missiles involves technology as old a German 88s and ME109s. The cruise missiles can be shot down without any technological breakthrough in defensive antiaircraft technology.
The breakthrough needed there is in timely detection for countermeasures.
Personally, what scares me most, is a weapon being smuggled in by a bunch of "poor little immigrant families" through Yuma.
I just looked around on the web; public info says they hit Mach 2.2 in a couple of seconds of launch.
Not what I was expecting to a trip to a friend’s winery, but it was cool to see/hear. (This was January.)
Part of me wishes I had stayed outside and watched the fireworks, but training and experience had me running for a hole in the ground.
Pretty cool!
That had to be a “RUSH”! I’m into stuff like that. Someone would have had to drag me into a bunker!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.