Posted on 12/12/2019 4:58:13 PM PST by Mariner
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon on Thursday flight-tested a missile that had been banned under a treaty that the United States and Russia abandoned last summer. Some U.S. arms control advocates said the test risks an unnecessary arms race with Moscow.
The prototype missile was configured to be armed with a non-nuclear warhead. The Pentagon declined to disclose specifics beyond saying the missile was launched from a “static launch stand” at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and landed in the open ocean. The Defense Department said the ballistic missile flew more than 500 miles.
The test comes amid growing uncertainty about the future of arms control. The last remaining treaty limitation on U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons — the New START treaty of 2010 — is scheduled to expire in February 2021. That treaty can be extended for as long as five years without requiring a renegotiation of its main terms. The Trump administration has indicated little interest in doing so.
The Pentagon declined to reveal the maximum range of the missile tested. Last spring, when U.S. officials disclosed the testing plan, they said it would be roughly 3,000 kilometers to 4,000 kilometers (1,860 miles to 2,480 miles). That is sufficient to reach potential targets in parts of China from a base on Guam, for example. The Pentagon has made no basing decisions and has suggested that it will take at least a few years before such a missile would be ready for deployment.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
But the range is nearly double, a third stage?
The Pershing II was the best IR missile in the world. Fast, low trajectory, dial-a-yield and published 30m CEP.
But everyone knew it would do 10m CEP 90% of the time.
No, you won't see this missile in Europe. We have little interest there and Britain/France have their own deterrent.
But, hopefully, we'll see 50-100 in Japan/Okinawa, Philippines and Guam.
It's time China and Norklandia see the stick.
What mean, “CEP”? :)
Thanks.
Ha ha ha. Like European countries and Asian countries like Japan, Australia and the Philippines are not targeted by Russia and China.
These people make me laugh at their stupidity.
What mean, “CEP”? :)
Circular Error Probability
Right you are Mariner!
I knew that. /s LOL
That was to OKsooner.
sorry
“Some U.S. arms control advocates . . ..”
And who might these folks be? Patriots, no doubt.
Wait a minute, didn’t that cowboy, Reagan, get us all killed by doing similar things?
Ballistic Missile Launches from Vandenberg AFB - KSBY News
UPDATE (11:35 a.m.) - Vandenberg Air Force Base officials say Thursday's launch was only the second test of a prototype conventionally-configured ground-launched missile system since the U.S. withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in August.
The first test took place in August at San Nicolas Island.
Officials say Thursday's test was successful.
The missile reportedly traveled 500 kilometers before falling into the ocean.
(8:43 a.m.) - A missile launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base Thursday morning.
The base confirms with KSBY News that the "conventionally configured ground launch ballistic missile" launched from the base at 8:30 a.m.
Prior to the launch, base officials were tight-lipped on whether a launch was happening Thursday.
The military training exercise stopped Amtrak service through a portion of Santa Barbara County.
According to a tweet at about 8:30 a.m., the Pacific Surfliner was stopped outside Guadalupe due to the exercise “near the tracks being done by Vandenberg AFB.”
Fast, low trajectory missiles are the stuff of boost-glide hypersonics.
various strategies change the quantity,energy state and direction of neutrons early in the bomb cycle.
First thing I thought of was Trump on the phone with fat boy saying, “Hold my beer and watch this....”
My college professor was instrumental in developing the Pershing II. He was impressed that I was able to guess the approximate radar frequency from just a look at a piece of waveguide.
But all the Pershing IIs have been destroyed.
I thought Trump repealing Net Neutrality killed us all?
Doe the missile have a name ? Covfefe, would work.
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