From: Spike (spike66@comcast.net)
Date: Wed Jul 16 2003 - 21:16:08 MDT
"The Airborne Laser currently in development has the potential to
intercept liquid-propellant ICBMs, but its range would be limited and it
would therefore be vulnerable to counterattack. The Airborne Laser would
not be able to disable solid-propellant ICBMs at ranges useful for
defending the United States"
Boost-phase defense isn't necessarily most effective for
the big spread-out United States, but rather for highly
compact high-value target nations such as Israel, Hong
Kong, Kuwait, Singapore, Taiwan, the Vatican, Japan, South
Korea, etc. These are nations that could perhaps use boost-
phase missile defense flying within their own borders
and still be close enough to enemy launch sites. The
US will likely be more effectively defended using
end-game missile defense such as PAC-3 and THAAD, and
perhaps ground-based laser defense.
spike
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