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Niall McCarthy, Forbes: Can The U.S. Intercept A North Korean Missile? [Infographic]
North Korea's nuclear program has evolved rapidly in recent months, culminating in Pyongyang test-firing a missile over Japan in August and detonating a hydrogen bomb at a test facility on Sunday. With diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis failing to gain traction, the effectiveness of missile-defense technology in the region is becoming paramount. South Korea is the closest potential target and it is counting on the U.S. Army's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) to intercept and destroy missiles in the event of hostilities. The system has proven hugely controversial in both China and South Korea. The Chinese claim the THAAD's powerful radar can monitor its military while South Koreans fear areas around the launchers could become North Korean targets. In the wake of the most recent nuclear test north of the border, however, the South Korean Defence Ministry said it will deploy the four remaining THAAD launchers, bolstering the two already in operation.
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WNU Editor: I wish the results were 100% .... but I guess this is a work of progress.
6 comments:
I wonder what the implications would be if a US ship were to shoot down a NK (test)missile in flight, and how hard would it be to do this. I'm sure there is no shortage of Aegis systems in the area.
It's completely embarrassing, that's what it is. And dangerous.
Countless billions spent over the decades for missile defense and even in those controlled tests (system and personnel on standby, time of lauch known, path of test missiles known, other missile characteristics known and calibrated for, -single missile intercepts only-) you see such failure rates. Unbef*ckinglievable. If you think the US can defend reliably against a surprise attack, involving perhaps 2-3 missiles at once, you will be surprised to see at least one go through. Terrible.
Regarding implications: shooting down another nation's property above international waters could be seen as act of war. If it's in the exclusive zone or territory over another nation, eg Japan, it's something else in front of the UN - but still, believe it or not, can be seen as act of war. The interpretation of what constitutes an act of war is defined by the UN, but very vaguely, and a nation does not necessarily abide by it.
Troll Hard: The Anon^3 Story
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walk_Hard:_The_Dewey_Cox_Story
Notice to mariners
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notice_to_mariners
Coast Guard gives notice: Missile launch expected in Alaska
www.cnn.com/2017/07/25/politics/coast-guard-alaska-missile-notice/index.html
The North Korean missile tests are illegal. As such shooting them down would be perfectly legal.
Some people ought to get out more. They need to go around the block at least once in their life. They need to get a real job.
It would be harder to criticize North Korea, if they gave advanced notice of their tests. That would include intended flight path and splashdown area. If they have a choice of 5 different splashdown areas or trajectories equally good for their test purposes, they should take the one that is least disruptive to world wide civilian airline and shipping traffic.
If a missile were to break up and fall in an inhabited area say in Japan, the North Korean government should pay damages to civilians for losses incurred. S___ happens. Not every launch will be good.
If a launch goes off course, it is fair game to be shot down. Being off course would be suspicious.
I'll say again, some people need real jobs.
Well, if NK attack we have the right to answer. Also, if we intercept a NK missile, that's of course an act of war, but I have a hard time to think NK would declare war to US.
What worry me most is the "marvelous" statistic success of our missile interception. They are during peace time, what about real war time?
Unless they program the coordinates into the interceptor.
- The interceptor system has to find and track the target with its own radar.
- The computer has to run through its algorithm to predict, where the target will be, and make course corrections to be 'there' and not merely chase it.
This is like a hunter leading a rabbit with his gun.
Of course like a rabbit jinking, so can a target missile.
Maybe at some point given the consequence they go 'Nike' again.
The tests are realistic.
Consider this. Israel is a Palestinian and Hezbollah test range and the Israelis shoot short range rockets. There is not much of a flight time or a window to hit those.
They are tweaking rocket engines, radar acquisition, & algorithms all the time. If someone wants to let it rip, they'll have to learn how to grab their ankles for when the riposte comes.
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