Posted on 10/16/2010 9:41:40 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The American island of Guam is getting bomb proof shelters for aircraft, fuel and ammo supplies and vital equipment. Apparently believing that China and North Korea could, and under the right conditions, would, fire ballistic missiles, using conventional (non-nuclear) warheads, the concrete protection is being discreetly constructed on military bases. This hardening also provides protection against typhoons (Pacific hurricanes) and less frequent earthquakes. This is all part of a larger construction effort. This is because the United States is in the process of moving 8,000 marines from Okinawa to Guam, which means new facilities to house these troops and their equipment. Existing facilities are also being refurbished and expanded at great expense (over $8 billion), a project that will continue for another three years. In addition, the air defenses at Guam are also being improved. There will now be three different air defense systems. These include a THAAD battery (24 missiles, three launchers and a fire control communications system). This will include an X-Band radar. The gear for each battery costs $310 million. The six meter (18 foot) long THAAD missiles weigh 836 kg (1,400 pounds). This is about the same size as the Patriot anti-aircraft missile, but twice the weight of the anti-missile version of the Patriot. The range of THAAD is 200 kilometers, max altitude is 150 kilometers, and it is intended for short (like SCUD) or medium range (up to 2,000 kilometer) range ballistic missiles. China is about 3,000 kilometers from Guam. THAAD has been in development for two decades. THAAD is a step up from the Patriot PAC-3 anti-missile (which is an anti-aircraft missile adapted to take out incoming missiles). The PAC-3 works, but it has limited (20 kilometers) range. Patriot also fires anti-aircraft missiles, with a range of 70 kilometers.
(Excerpt) Read more at strategypage.com ...
Will these upgrades protect the island for capsizing? Let’s hope so.
Not so discreetly...
This has been in the works for about a decade.
About 5 years ago, I bought in to a private Rental Property REIT on Guam.
Just think of how stupid the guy was that said that the island might capsize...... and realize even stupider people picked him to represent them. One more pleasant thought...........these people are trusted to drive. Remember that one the next time you're on the interstate.
Certainly it was strategically important when we used wooden ships.
Don’t see why 20mm Phalanxes couldn’t be used for close in defense. ballistic missiles follow predictable paths. Destroying an incoming high explosive warhead 2000 meters up would negate it’s ability to achieve meaningful destruction of military assets.
Chemical and biological are another matter.
truly scary.
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