NMD - up and running in lieu of N. Korea missile test

[dd74]

Well, it seems today, in light of the N. Korea proposed three-stage nuclear missile test, the U.S. in turn activated NMD shields in Washington State and California, and among several vessels in the Pacific.

This is what the NMD is.

It'd be something, wouldn't it, if we blasted their missile right out of the sky as the NKs were testing it?

[Nathans_Dad]

Hey, why can't we test our system too? I would just consider that missile a free drone.

[dd74]

Originally posted by Nathans_Dad
Hey, why can't we test our system too? I would just consider that missile a free drone.

That's my exact thinking. I want to see if our stuff works, too.

The NMD is an off-shoot of Reagan's STAR WARS. I guess he knew the future in some regard.

[IROC]

We have tested our system alot but the tests haven't been exactly successful. Most of the time we launch stuff from VAFB and then intercept it (fingers crossed) with stuff launched from Kwaj.

NMD (I think it's really called GMD now) has some phenomenal technology associated with it. Truly amazing. I designed all of the tooling (and the process itself) to integrate the "kill vehicle" (the business end of the interceptor) to the boost vehicle. Fun stuff.

Mike

[mikester]

it's like hitting a bullet with another bullet.

[ckissick]

Originally posted by mikester
it's like hitting a bullet with another bullet.

No, it's not. That's what the opponents always say, even if it's not true. It's a complicated system and not perfected by any means, but it shows promise.

The best bet for it to work is if you have missile bases near the launch site. "Near" can be hundreds of miles away. As the nuke missile is ascending, the other missile can be launched and with heat seeking combined with satellite guidance, catch up to the nuke from behind and destroy it. There are other methods, too.

[Joeaksa]

We need to do a test on our system anyway, so whats the harm in doing the test the same time they test their missle. Hell, place a nuke boat outside their waters and when it fires then we can "just happen" to test at the same time.

Then they might get the message...

[dd74]

Yeah. The more I think about it, the more I agree we should test the system. It would serve notice to the NKs and China as well as the Russians that we have this capacity.

But more importantly - whether or not our hands are actually tied with Iraq, it'll show that with other adversarial countries we still have the capacity to dictate policy in our interest.

[Mike Bonkalski]

But what if we test it and it misses the mark?

To attempt to take down an NK missile, to show the world the capacity of our defense systems, I'd think you would want a 'sure thing'.

That doesn't seem to be the case with this system at it's current point of development.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

If they launch and you hear nothing, the system didn't work. If they launch and you hear Bushco tooting their own horns for the next year and a half about it, it worked.

[dd74]

Yes, it is a crap shoot. But then again, we need to show the power first. Missing the mark shouldn't necessarily mean to the NKs the second NMD will miss the mark. But then again, much of the psychological aspects of preemptive strike/counterstrike stuff is based on how sane one's mind is vs. the other.

The head of NK, supposedly, is quite unstable.

There's also the chance their missile may not fire at all, but I wouldn't take any chances. Fortunately, the Pentagon agrees.

[BGCarrera32]

Approaching for intercept...

[wrecktech]

Anyone seen this yet?

http://www.hedfud.com/media/displayimage.php?album=2&pos=114