...Vandenberg AFB
Posted on 06/19/2006 8:47:38 PM PDT by edpc
The Pentagon activated its new U.S. ground-based interceptor missile defense system, Bill Gertz reports in Tuesday's WASHINGTON TIMES, just as officials announced that any long-range missile launch by North Korea would be considered a "provocative act."
Poor weather conditions above where the missile site was located by U.S. intelligence satellites indicates that an immediate launch is unlikely, said officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
However, intelligence officials said preparations have advanced to the point where a launch could take place within several days to a month.
Two Navy Aegis warships are patrolling near North Korea as part of the global missile defense and would be among the first sensors that would trigger the use of interceptors, the officials said yesterday.
Gertz reports: The U.S. missile defense system includes 11 long-range interceptor missiles, including nine deployed at Fort Greeley, Alaska, and two at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The system was switched from test to operational mode within the past two weeks, the officials said.
Advantage, us. There are multiple sources for one missile. We'd use a multi-layer force in a real conflict. The airborne laser is still a project. You'd have it near the launch area, the mid course Alaskan bases covering that phase, and the Aegis/Patriot PAC-3 systems covering the terminal target areas. One of these is going to take it out.
The JSDF Konga Class Aegis destroyers are all supposed to be upgraded to the capability of an AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense Block 2004 capability by November 2007.
North Korea doesn't want to wait until they have that capability.
Ugh ... brain fart.
No biggie....happens to the best of us.
They bomb Hawaii, and the Japanese would turn NK into a smoking crater within a day.
The US wouldn't have to lift a finger.
...Vandenberg AFB
I agree "Splash" It!
I'm pretty sure we don't have to worry about a payload on this particular missile. They are just trying to see if they can launch a missile that will successfully separate, start its second stage, and continue on course. The biggest problem right now is...where's the booster going to land? Japan has already said it better not land there, or they'll consider it a hostile act.
I hadn't heard this mentioned, but is it not also true that F-15 and F-22s are easily capable of the altitude and speeds required to get in the air and intercept ICBMs and destroy them with their own AAMs, Sparrows and AMRAAMS, or even the heavy "Pegasus" anti satellite missiles? I think that should be very possible once the missle is in it's downward arc. That kind of missle does travel sub sonic, and a squadron of super sonic fighters firing super sonic AAMs could defintiely shoot down even a handful of ICMS, especially considering from North Korea, any ICMB would come within range of fighters in Alaska on their way towards the Continental U.S.. This is what I am thinking just based on my knowledge of U.S. military equipment. I may be wrong though, so someone please correct me if i am. But I think that would work and surely if I can think of it, it's part of the strategy to protect the U.S. from ICMB attack.
Again, just my opinion, but this is where the F-14 could come in really handy with it's Phoenix missiles and radar system. The Phoenix has a hundred mile range, is super sonic, and nearly fool proof. A flight of four F-14D's with two Phoenix's missiles each, and the rest of the palettes loaded with external fuel tanks, at mach 2+ could get into position pretty quick at over 60,000 feet, and launch one or more Phoenix at an ICBM/s. They wouldn't all miss and in that case the worst case scenario would be that the warheads would deatonate over water, which would sure be preferable than over an American city. Odds are they wouldn't deatonate because of damage from the AAM hit, and if they didn't fall into water too deep to ever recover, the Navy would get them for certain. Any thoughts? I doubt this will happen but it would certainly be a great use for the F-14D Tomcats that have been retired from Naval service. :)
The question is will anyone do anything? Obviously North Korea will have to pay. Bush will probably tell Japan not to do anything and more of Bush's supporters will leave ensuring a Democrat victory this fall. Bush hopefully will do the right thing and make North Korea pay.
If they go fr Hawaii, much less North America, I expect that there will be more fireworks than Kim Jong Mentally Ill wants to think about.
I think I remember hearing that. God bless the Toconderoga's and the Arleigh Burkes. :) They can sure do a lot more than shoot down planes, sink ships and subs, and destroy ground targets. :) The best CGs and DDGs ever.
ICBMs. Messed that up three times. :) Typing too fast and not looking what I'm typing. :) Sorry.
U.S. intelligence officials said there are signs that the North Koreans recently began fueling the Taepodong with highly corrosive rocket fuel. Normally, when liquid fuel is loaded into missiles the missile must be fired within five to 10 days, or it must be de-fueled and the motors cleaned, a difficult and hazardous process.
anyway we can
Absolutely...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1638552/posts
Why do you think Conservatives would defect from supporting Bush and Republicans if NK launches this missile? I believe the opposite would happen, because IF NK does this test and it is a long range ICBM, that would prove that Bush was right and NK was a nuclear thread, and that multi-lateral talks, SIX YEARS OF THEM, have accomplished NOTHING, because NK STILL got their nuclear missile program despite all the diplomatic pressure. I think this would prove Bush right that you don't stop rogue terrorist states from developing nuclear programs by negotiating and with diplomacy, like the democrats have damanded, you stop those programs by military action by destroying the program before it produces a functional nuclear device. Why do you think a nuke missile test by NK would drive conservatives away from Bush and the GOP? That makes no sense to me.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.