Hummmmm with SOSUS in the Pacific... I fail to see how this could be another nation state firing this off... unless someone has developed a boomer capable of running more silently than our people and equipment can detect. That has implications I would rather not think about, but have to recognize as possible.
This being said, if it was another Nation, it was damn near an act of war, who has the capability and the willingness to do that? NK? Iran? China? A nation willing to do that is coming from a position of extreme hubris, overwhelming power, or insanity. Have your pick.
Alternatively, if this was fired by us, then who ordered it. Doing a launch like that is NOT an easy thing to do. I know, my husband served aboard a Boomer in the early 90’s. Those candles do not get lit by accident. Unless its a test launch, those candles are ARMED. They are Nuclear weapons capable of taking out large cities at a minimum. They don’t get lit on accident.
So this was a test firing that no one is admitting to authorizing, or it was a MASSIVE cluster f**k that will cost many men their commissions. OR it was another Nation willing to risk all out war.
This is an eyebrow raiser for real.
It wouldn’t have to be silent or more stealthy. You could have an old noisy sub with a missile mounted on it. As long as it is in international waters....YOU KNOW ODUMBI WON’T PROACTIVELY STOP IT.
and since we shut down that wullenwebber at Imperial Beach.....