Replies

That is my best guess as of today. I am convinced that a non exploding missile broke apart the B747 at the initiating event but the KKV is only based on what was available that had the mass and velocity to do the job. A supersonic Russian target drone was in the news around that same time and something else besides a SM-2 hybrid may have had the capability to do the job. 'Jane's Defence Weekly' told of a pending summer test and I don't know of another test that that could have been. This is why I wonder if a Brit sub did the firing. This could be a reasonable excuse to cover-up what happened. I have difficulty believing that Bob Dole would not know what happened and if the reason for a cover-up existed, he would have to sign onto it to keep from using the crash to his political advantage in the '96 presidential election. I am convinced that our government lied but not cognizant as to why it lied; Bill Clinton or a friendly fire accident. If Bill Clinton, all's fair in love and war. If friendly fire, I should retreat and lick my wounds.

I spent some time today looking for an unclassified source that lists minimum ranges and structural load limits for the Standard SM-2 missile. I couldn't find one, but let me explain two problems with your theory. The range between your shooter (the 30 knot track) and TWA 800 is a little less then 3 miles at the time TWA 800 starts to destruct. Your theory is that TWA 800 was struck by a Standard SM-2 missile carrying a KKV. That means it must have been a Standard SM-2 Block IV A, or possibly a specially modified SM-2 Block IV. Both missiles are Extended Range (ER) missiles with a Mk-72 booster attached. The SM-2 Block IV is a mach 3.5 missile built to hit targets at very long range. It has three stages of motors to propel its KKV warhead to exo-atmospheric altitudes. Without getting into specific numbers, I can tell you that 3 miles is not enough range for the SM-4 Block IV to launch guide and function. Furthermore, the KKV program includes a specially modified Aegis radar, capable of tracking tactical ballistic missile warheads above the atmosphere. There isn't a submarine in the galaxy with that kind of capability.

Additionally, even if it could launch and guide in that short a range, the G forces required to get it to reverse direction to impact the 747 from the exact opposite direction from which it was launched would exceed the structural limits of the missile. It would need to reverse its course while maintaining its nose mounted internal seekers on the target. In other words, it would have to square a corner. To do so, even if you assume the missile is only traveling at mach 1, would require a G load well beyond its structural limits. Keep in mind, the SM-2 is not a high G dog fighting missile. It is a long range interceptor. Lots of speed, lots of range, not much maneuverability.

Having said that, assuming your FDR analysis is correct, you could still say TWA 800 was impacted by a KKV missile in its left empennage, but the missile would have had to have come from a source at a much greater range then the 30 knot track, and positioned most likely from the South or West.