[sarge83]

Did they stick to the usual of hitting the missile in the descent stage or change tactics and hit the missile while it was ascending?

[Spktyr]

Descent stage is the more realistic scenario for these missiles. Assuming a nuke tipped ballistic missile, most of those have launch sites far enough inland that a seaborne launcher or a launcher close to a Western target doesn’t have the range to hit the missile on the way up (assuming it’s even able to see the launch come over the horizon), so it’s only going to be able to attack the missile in midcourse or descent mode.

It’s even more critical for our battlegroups because the Chinese now have a ballistic carrier killer (a very large ballistic carrier killer) and Aegis is considerably weaker against a vertical ballistic threat.

[OldMissileer]

Did they stick to the usual of hitting the missile in the descent stage or change tactics and hit the missile while it was ascending?

We do not have the capability with both the technology, coupled with the decision-making process, to intercept during the boost phase.