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.
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.
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.
Flyswatter Ping
Pretty cool!