[usurper]

I am sorry, while this might seem like a good idea the logistics are overwhelming.

First we would need an extensive fleet of these things to maintain 24/7 coverage.

We would need at least two squadrons one for the ME and the other for North Korea, thats if we just ignore Russia and China.

IMHO, we need to be looking more at space based platforms, expensive to get up there but once in place give us significant years of hover time over a much larger area.

Anything that would fit into a 747 could be assembled, post deployment, to a space based platform. Flying plains around 24/7 just takes us back to the SAC days of the 60s.

[conservativewasp]

"Flying plains around 24/7 just takes us back to the SAC days of the 60s"

Those were very effective days. I haven't noticed any radioactive cities around here.

[gafusa]

The ABL would be only deployed to high risk areas when needed. As the picture demonstrates (and for TMD only, the NMD includes several more systems) it is a multi-tier system. The ABL provides a high mobility element to back up the other elements, not a full system.

[neverdem]

I am sorry, while this might seem like a good idea the logistics are overwhelming.

OK, say push came to shove. What about the logistics of a space based system already engaged, if they had not been already attacked and destroyed by anti-satellite weapons?

[Laserman]

Sorry, but SBL's are no cheaper. It takes a constellation of them for continuous coverage of a theater, or putting incredibly large and expensive systems out at GEO. This is not to say SBL's are not worth doing. But they are not good at "hovering over a spot".

ABL's do not have to be everywhere all the time. They can be deployed when trouble errupts.