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There is a long history of using nukes to intercept missiles. Here's one of the USA's (ancient) efforts:[1] Both missiles [long range and short range] used nuc
by PhantomGremlin 7y ago
There is a long history of using nukes to intercept missiles.
Here's one of the USA's (ancient) efforts:[1] Both missiles [long range and short range] used nuclear warheads, and they relied on destroying or damaging the incoming warhead with radiation rather than heat or blast.
The technology was quite impressive for its time. A Youtube video is titled "SPRINT ABM - Zero to Mach 10 in 5 Seconds", with a caption in the video pointing out "white hot skin". [2]
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safeguard_Program#Operation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safeguard_Program#Operation
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msXtgTVMcuA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msXtgTVMcuA
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- LargoLasskhyfv 7y agoYes, that was very impressive. But you forgot to mention the operational range of the used missile system. [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprint_(missile) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprint_(missile) says 25miles/40km Think about how many you'd need to reliably protect your denser populated metropolitan areas? And the accompanying radars? When i first saw this 'Temple of Doom' [4] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/SRMSC_MSR_HAER_ND-9-B.jpg/1280px-SRMSC_MSR_HAER_ND-9-B.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/SR... i immediately had to think of the Planet of the Apes movies. OTOH they'd make really good anchor points in the seawalls we need to build because of rising oceans!1!!