7 ms·

The nuke could be programmed/signaled to actually detonate if it encounters an interceptor AND is within X distance of target territory. In which case, it is an

by kidme5 4y ago

The nuke could be programmed/signaled to actually detonate if it encounters an interceptor AND is within X distance of target territory. In which case, it is an atmospheric nuclear explosion probably with EMP effects. This is one reason people stress missile defense that hits the nuke immediately over their launch site (boost phase). For NK that might mean interceptor UAVs hovering off the Korean coast or ships. But for Russia or China it means a Starlink-style system with hypersonic interceptors staged in orbit around the globe. https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Development_Agency https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Development_Agency This obviously has tons of flaws though. It would cause a feedback increase in nuclear stockpiling to counteract the fraction intercepted to ensure MAD.

mikewarot 4y ago
>if it encounters an interceptor How would it know? You can't have radar on it, because that would make it easier to hone in on, aiding interception. Also, on re-entry most objects have a highly ionized shock-wave around them, making forward facing radio communications quite difficult at best (assuming you could manage the cooling, etc)
- kidme5 4y ago
  They (launcher of nuke) can use satellites to track their own missile and the interceptor. Also separately, communication/radar works fine through reentry plasma once you go up to 20-50 GHz frequency.
  - aPoCoMiLogin 4y ago
    that sounds like it still adds way to spot the nuke and intercept it.
  - positr0n 4y ago
    My intuition says, due to the speeds and sizes of the two vehicles and latency of communications there'd be no way to figure out if the interceptor will successfully hit the nuke until it's too late. If the interceptor misses the nuke's location by 50 microseconds it'll explode harmlessly a foot behind it. (The ICBM is probably traveling faster than the shockwave front of the explosive, depending on where it is) I don't think a radar from satellite could be that precise, that fast, and get a signal out.

by kidme5 4y ago

mikewarot 4y ago

>if it encounters an interceptor How would it know? You can't have radar on it, because that would make it easier to hone in on, aiding interception. Also, on re-entry most objects have a highly ionized shock-wave around them, making forward facing radio communications quite difficult at best (assuming you could manage the cooling, etc)

kidme5 4y ago
They (launcher of nuke) can use satellites to track their own missile and the interceptor. Also separately, communication/radar works fine through reentry plasma once you go up to 20-50 GHz frequency.
- aPoCoMiLogin 4y ago
  that sounds like it still adds way to spot the nuke and intercept it.
- positr0n 4y ago
  My intuition says, due to the speeds and sizes of the two vehicles and latency of communications there'd be no way to figure out if the interceptor will successfully hit the nuke until it's too late. If the interceptor misses the nuke's location by 50 microseconds it'll explode harmlessly a foot behind it. (The ICBM is probably traveling faster than the shockwave front of the explosive, depending on where it is) I don't think a radar from satellite could be that precise, that fast, and get a signal out.