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The countermeasures would have been a spectacular lighshow for the end of the world, as the system was overwhelmed. Those airbursts, conventional or not, and a
by ggm 2y ago
The countermeasures would have been a spectacular lighshow for the end of the world, as the system was overwhelmed.
Those airbursts, conventional or not, and a consequent rain of partially burnt, somewhat atomised fissile material over Canada and .. a lot of protected asset in North America. Assuming even a limited engagement, there was a lot of consequences afterwards.
Still, MAD did it's job.
- PaulHoule 2y agoThe most interesting phenomenon of nuclear-tipped ABM systems is that exoatmospheric nuclear explosions create a pulse of X-rays that travels through space until it hits the atmosphere where it creates a plasma explosion that creates a strong and dangerous electromagnetic pulse. Aside from the effects on people 1000s of miles away (the plasma travels that far) the EMP is a direct threat to the radar, computers, communication links, etc. In an engagement that lasts a few minute it needs to recover from any upset quickly; note Spartan uses a track-via-missile system (common in anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems that engage fast and distant targets) which would also impair missile control during an upset. To that end they did all kinds of work including developing a unique computer https://srmsc.org/ref1040.html https://srmsc.org/ref1040.html