US close to laser missile defense

[Peter1469]

US close to laser missile defense

Reagan started these programs in the 1980s and the hard left mocked him. For two reasons. They hate what he stood for, and they wanted that money tossed into the welfare money pit.

The Pentagon is looking to lasers as a cheaper, more effective way to shoot down long-range missiles fired at the United States by North Korea and Iran.

After experimenting with the technology for more than a decade, U.S. military officials said “directed energy” is near the point where they could use it on the battlefield.


“It’s not a hope. This is what we’re doing,” Vice Adm. James Syring, director of the Missile Defense Agency, said Wednesday. “I view this [as] highly important for the future.”


Syring and other military officials struck a common theme at this week’s annual Space and Missile Defense Symposium, arguing that lasers could ultimately augment existing missile interceptors. They want lasers for two main reasons: they could shoot down missiles earlier than today’s interceptors and they’re much cheaper to fire.

“We have to deal with the fact that our interceptors are more costly,” said Katrina McFarland, the Army’s acting acquisition executive. “The cost dimension of warfare must be switched from our side to the adversary side.”

read the rest at the link

[exploited]

I think Reagan got mocked for his Star Wars program, not basic missile interceptors, no? There being a huge difference between knocking down regular missiles and ICBMs.

[Peter1469]

I think Reagan got mocked for his Star Wars program, not basic missile interceptors, no? There being a huge difference between knocking down regular missiles and ICBMs.

It was a series of programs that he proposed. Lasers were on his bucket list, but he knew they wouldn't be viable until he was dust.

[MisterVeritis]

US close to laser missile defense

Reagan started these programs in the 1980s and the hard left mocked him. For two reasons. They hate what he stood for, and they wanted that money tossed into the welfare money pit.

read the rest at the link

A very long time ago I wrote a magazine article on directed energy weapons. I submitted for publication and it went through the usual security review. One day my boss, the battalion commander came to my office and said he and I would wait for a phone call.

I thought that was very unusual. The call came. It was someone in the Pentagon. He confirmed who I was and confirmed that my battalion commander was listening. He told me to stop whatever I was doing, go round up all copies of my article, all notes I had taken and then go to the special security office.

It turned out the article I wrote was up classified to top secret. I had described two categories of weapons, one based on high energy lasers, the other on particle beams. I made power estimates and size estimates based on my guesses about just a few system characteristics.

Then I speculated about where such weapons could be deployed. At the time I had never had access to top secret materials. Nor was I aware of SCI and SAP.

It was an exciting day.

[waltky]

Granny been showin' possum how to play 'duck n' cover'...

North Korea says missile test shows all U.S. within striking range
Saturday 29th July, 2017 - North Korea has hailed as a success its latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), describing it as a "stern warning" for the U.S., BBC News reports.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said the test proved that the entire U.S. was within striking range, state media reported. However, experts say many of North Korea's missiles cannot accurately hit targets. The launch came three weeks after North Korea's first ICBM test. The Pentagon said the latest missile was launched at 23:41 (15:41 GMT) from an arms plant in Jagang province in the north of the country. North Korea said the ICBM flew for just over 47 minutes and reached an altitude of 3,724km (2,300 miles).

It is unusual for North Korea to launch a missile at night - the significance is as yet unclear. This is the first missile fired from Jagang province, indicating a previously-unknown launch site is operational. The test was condemned by the U.S. and North Korea's neighbours. U.S. President Donald Trump called it "only the latest reckless and dangerous action by the North Korean regime".

http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/2...striking-range

See also:

US Bombers Fly Over S. Korea After North's 2nd ICBM Test
30 Jul 2017 -- The B-1 bombers, escorted by South Korean fighters, performed a low pass over an air base near the South Korean capital of Seoul.

The United States flew two supersonic bombers over the Korean Peninsula on Sunday in a show of force against North Korea, following the country's latest intercontinental ballistic missile test. The B-1 bombers were escorted by South Korean fighter jets as they performed a low pass over an air base near the South Korean capital of Seoul, before returning to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, the U.S. Pacific Air Forces said in a statement.

B-1B Lancer bombers assigned to the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron arrive at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam

It said the mission was a response to consecutive ICBM tests by North Korea this month. Analysts say flight data from North Korea's second ICBM test conducted Friday night showed that a broader part of the mainland United States, including Los Angeles and Chicago, is now in range of Pyongyang's weapons. "North Korea remains the most urgent threat to regional stability," Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, Pacific Air Forces commander, said. "Diplomacy remains the lead. However, we have a responsibility to our allies and our nation to showcase our unwavering commitment while planning for the worst-case scenario." He added: " If called upon, we are ready to respond with rapid, lethal, and overwhelming force at a time and place of our choosing."

The United States often sends powerful warplanes in times of heightened animosities with North Korea. B-1 bombers have been sent to South Korea for flyovers several times this year in response to North Korea's banned missile tests, and also following the death of a U.S. college student last month after he was released by North Korea. The Hwasong-14 ICBM, which the North first tested on July 4, is the highlight of several new weapons systems Pyongyang launched this year. They include an intermediate range missile the North says is capable of hitting Alaska and Hawaii and a solid-fuel mid-range missile, which analysts say can be fired faster and more secretly than liquid-fuel missiles.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2...icbm-test.html

Related:

US Conducts 'Successful' THAAD Missile Test
30 Jul 2017 - The THAAD weapon system tracked and intercepted a medium-range ballistic missile launched over the Pacific Ocean.

The U.S. military on Sunday conducted a test of its THAAD missile defense system, two days after North Korea launched its second intercontinental ballistic missile. This test was expected after a warning from the U.S. Coast Guard last week. Earlier this month, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said it would be conducting two THAAD tests this month from Kodiak, Alaska. This is the second of the two tests.

The test comes as Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, U.S. Pacific Air Forces commander, warned North Korea that the U.S. and its allies are prepared to use "rapid, lethal and overwhelming force," if necessary against the rogue nation. "The U.S. Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Army soldiers of the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade from Fort Bliss, Texas, conducted a successful missile defense test today using the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system," the Missile Defense Agency said in a statement on Sunday.

The Pentagon said that the THAAD missile defense system, shown above, has a perfect test record so far, hitting 15 out of 15 targets.

The target, a medium-range ballistic missile, was launched over the Pacific Ocean and the THAAD weapon system in Kodiak tracked and intercepted it. "In addition to successfully intercepting the target, the data collected will allow MDA to enhance the THAAD weapon system, our modeling and simulation capabilities, and our ability to stay ahead of the evolving threat," MDA Director Lt. Gen. Sam Greaves said. THAAD is used to intercept short- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. It does not target intercontinental ballistic missiles. The U.S. has a perfect record of launches, hitting 15 out of 15 targets, the Pentagon said.

The latest launch comes in the wake of North Korea's latest ICBM test. Analysts said flight data from the North's second ICBM test, conducted Friday night, showed that a broader part of the mainland United States, including Los Angeles and Chicago, is now in range of Pyongyang's weapons. "North Korea remains the most urgent threat to regional stability," O'Shaughnessy said. "Diplomacy remains the lead. However, we have a responsibility to our allies and our nation to showcase our unwavering commitment while planning for the worst-case scenario."

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2...sile-test.html