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The anti-aircraft defenses are mostly dismantled. There is no defense in place against cruise missiles except for the few that can be intercepted by F-16s and F-22s. The old anti-aircraft missile sites are still there, but there is no hardware. Russia has about a brazillion anti-aircraft missiles in place. Perhaps the Pentagon can buy a few shiploads from them cheap.

The anti-aircraft defenses are mostly dismantled.

When I was a kid in Prince Georges County, Md in the mid 50s I used to ride my bike way, way out in the woods. Out there, in the middle of nowhere, (about where Landover Arena is now,) was a National Guard 120mm AA gun battery, one of several that surrounded the capital area. I would have a cold Coke out of the machine at the gatehouse and go on my way.

In time, they were replaced by Nikes, and in a little more time, ground-based air defense was gone altogether. For the record, I always thought it was precipitous to abandon an area as critical as WDC to low- and medium-level threats.

Bring back the Duster!

Russia has about a brazillion anti-aircraft missiles in place. Perhaps the Pentagon can buy a few shiploads from them cheap.

I would not be surprised. Did you see this?

Russia Develops New Support Vehicle for S-300, Plans to Export
August 15, 2006 , Jane’s Information Group News
Russia has developed a new reloading and missile-transportation vehicle for its S-300 air/missile defense systems, reports the September 1 issue of Jane’s Missiles and Rockets. The NPP Start scientific production enterprise released details of the new 22T6E2 vehicle at the recent Russian Expo Arms 2006 exhibition in Nizhniy Tagil. The 22T6E2 is based on Russian wheeled vehicles rather than the Ukrainian-manufactured KrAZ-260 wheeled chassis currently in use. The new vehicle, 10.8 m long, 3.2 m wide and 3.8 m high, can simultaneously load or unload two S-300 missiles and can relocate four missiles in approximately 30 minutes.
Jane’s reports that Russia plans to export the new S-300 vehicles immediately. In 2005, the designers completed all testing of the 22T6E2 and received a certificate for mass production. According to Gennadiy Mikhaylovics Muratshin, the general director of NPP Start, the factory already has production orders from four unspecified countries.