Nuclear warheads can traverse the ocean in less than 30 minutes and are difficult to intercept. Currently, the US missile defense system is designed to intercept nuclear warheads in space. In the middle of the ballistic orbit, collision interceptors launched from land or sea make it impossible to function.
On the 17th, the US Pentagon released the "Missile Defense Assessment" report, which is also its first strategic update since 2010. The plan will expand the existing ground-based missile defense system. It will also add satellites with sensors, drones equipped with lasers, and fighter jets with missiles.
The official website of the US "Science" magazine pointed out that some experts compared this challenge to hitting a bullet with a bullet. Even in the Department of Defense test, the success rate is like tossing a coin, full of uncertainty. Demand continued support for the military's ground-based defense system. The main US missile defense strategy is still a deterrent force. The purpose is to show that they have an immediate and overwhelming US nuclear response and can prevent their opponents from launching a nuclear strike. But the military wants more options. Over the past few decades, ground systems have been deployed to target missiles.
The new assessment report will continue to support these systems and propose specific goals. For example, by 2023, the Aegis fleet capable of launching interceptor missiles will be expanded from 38 to 60, and the number of land interceptors previously built in Alaska and California will be increased. Increased from 44 sets to 64 sets.
Focus on intercepting nuclear warhead technology in the rising phase. The assessment report focuses on the boost phase technology, and suggests using drones or laser pointer on aircraft to intercept nuclear warheads. In addition, President Trump hopes that through the installation of sensors and interceptors in space, the chances of finding nuclear warheads that are still on the rise can be increased. After all, at this stage, nuclear warheads rise slowly and are attached to thermal radiation signals. More obvious boost to the rocket.
In the 2010 Pentagon test, researchers used an improved Boeing 747 to launch a megawatt laser to destroy the missile, but the laser range was too short and accompanied by a large amount of toxic chemicals, so it could not be put into practical use. Another new project is to test a lighter solid-state fiber laser on an airplane, but the maximum power of this green laser pointer is less than 100 kilowatts. The development of a drone that can carry a powerful enough laser and is compact enough requires subversion of the existing technology.
The report pointed out that in addition to the laser pointer, the F-35 fighter can also carry interceptor missiles. But experts say that for a jet that can hit a missile in the ascending ballistic phase, it must either be very close to the missile or carry a sufficient amount of ammunition. Criticism abounds, "approval" is not optimistic. Many experts are critical of this. Past studies have found that such a scheme is not feasible due to high cost, and the effect will not be better than the existing system that combines the current ground-based and sea-based radar.