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>The HTV-2 is part of an advanced weapons program called Conventional Prompt Global Strike, which is working to develop systems to reach an enemy target anywher
by vl 15y ago
>The HTV-2 is part of an advanced weapons program called Conventional Prompt Global Strike, which is working to develop systems to reach an enemy target anywhere in the world within one hour.
Wait, but don't ICBMs have like 40 min strike time for any target in the world since, like, sixties? (Ok, in the sixties they couldn't aim this fast).
- deleted 15y ago[deleted]
- icarus_drowning 15y agoYes, but launching an ICBM has the rather unfortunately consequence of telegraphing the message that you are about to nuke someone. Hence the program is a non-ballistic one that seeks an alternative means of delivering a payload as quickly. As a bonus, I gather that the HTV program promises to be more accurate.
- burgerbrain 15y agoIt's my impression that the rocket used to launch this thing would likely still set off early warning launch detection systems.
- dkarl 15y agoIt seems like that sinks the entire idea. A weapon that is suitable for a nuclear first strike doesn't seem like a weapon that is suitable for much else, unless we're on unimaginably good terms with all the other nuclear powers. The fact that we must consider the possibility of military conflict with China makes it especially troubling to consider building a weapon like that and developing a defense strategy that depends on it. Can you imagine getting in a war with China and suddenly launching a dozen ICBMs with conventional weapons on them? Of course we would never do that. It would be insane to do anything that looked like a first strike during a conflict with China. Or Russia, for that matter. Hell, it would probably be insane to do it even if we weren't at war with Russia or China. The mere fact that this plane could deliver a nuclear weapon to Moscow or Beijing in under an hour means that it would be unwise to use it for anything else.
- vl 15y agoWell, I'm pretty sure that the fist thing they will do once it's operations is to install tactical nuke on it.
- olefoo 15y agoThe whole point of a weapon system like this is to develop the capability to project sufficient force to anywhere it's needed. In geopolitical terms it's more of a scalpel than a hammer. This is for taking out an emerging threat at short notice based on intelligence developed in the field, not for going up against a prepared opponent with an established ability to respond in kind or worse.
- vl 15y agoThis point is understood, this discussion is about dangers of using this weapon even against somebody without retaliatory capability since the ones with the retaliatory capability can launch counterstrike by mistake since early warning system is not going to be able to distinguish launch of this weapon from the nuclear missile launch.
- krschultz 15y agoThat's what submarines are for, and it seems far easier to make a cruise missile that goes Mach 3 from a hundred milse off shore than a missile that goes Mach 20 from across the ocean.
- arethuza 15y agoWhy "must" the US consider a conflict with their main overseas creditor?
- deleted 15y ago[deleted]
- khafra 15y agoThe US developed plans to go to war with Canada. It is the perpetual imperative of a department of defense to be consider conflict with everyone, especially those nearest military parity.
- vl 15y agoI'm with burgerbrain on this one - how this launch is going to be distinguishable from Minuteman III launch?