[archy]

The problem with the Navy missile theory is that the missile would NOT have had the sort of exhaust plume described by eyewitnesses at the point of intercepting Flight 800.

What's the Soviet surface-to-air shipborne 2-stage missile that launches from ship, then fires a second supersonic warhead stage once it closes with and locks on the target. I'll admit that Russian naval weapons systems fall outside my area of interest and middlin' knowledge, but that sure does sound like the profile and characteristic described.

Might the FBI coverup efforts have been directed at deflecting the public wrath from the Russian suppliers, or possibly a former Soviet client?

[Poohbah]

SA-N-6. Problem is, there wasn't a Kirov or Slava-class cruiser in the neighborhood (the only platforms armed with the SA-N-6), and Ivan didn't export the weapons system. The missile is pretty big; so's the guidance radar.