According to an expert report of the American Physical Society, the launch of long-distance rockets during the firing phase is hard to realize
The national missile defense is the expensive favorite project of the Bush government. The idea is still from Reagan’s times, as well as many of the members of the US government. The expensive project has been accompanied by the expensive project since the beginning not only because of the political and security strategy effects, but also because of the technical realizability. After the launch of long-distance missiles during the flight phase by one "Kill Vehicle" even under optimal conditions is more difficult than intended, the Pentagon now relies on a defense system, which should destroy the missiles along their explosive push during the firing phase of the engine. A report of the American Physical Society (APS) explains that this is not really a viable way.
So you can see the planned airborne laser in the Pentagon in use
The Bush government is in a hurry, even if the technology is far from matured. Already from the next year, the first defense systems are to be installed for short, medium and long-distance rockets in Alaska and on ships and to be recovered allies, even under the safety promising but expensive screen (the rough wall). But because this is still a little immature, one understands the development evolutionar. So one starts with production and installation and then improves / modernizes the system gradually. Cheaper, of course, was not allowed this.
The last attempt in June with the sea-built system AEGEIS has failed (test for missile defense shield). That "EXO-Atmospheric Kill Vehicle" did not meet the target. The last attempt with the landed system at the end of 2002 was not a success. Realistic goods, of course, that an enemy power does not only deport a blast head and a dummy with a long-distance rocket, so far the test conditions, but that after the focal phase in the flight numerous blasting heads and dummies are released. Therefore, a defense appears, the long-distance missiles already destroyed in the focal phase of the engine, whereby all the scrap heads and dummies are met, more useful. But that does not have to mean that they must be technically feasible.
However, according to the extensive report of the large American physicist society, which 12 experts have worked out for three years, the opportunities are also poor even with the variants of the missile defense shield, which should destroy the enemy missiles shortly after the start during the firing phase of the drive. It is thought of on land, sea and air-classed systems — for example, a laser should be installed for this purpose in a Boeing 747 — but in the long term also to defense systems in space. The Pentagon wants to invest a billion for the development of firing phase launch systems alone in the next financial year alone, for the airborne laser is a half billion. First of all, the Missile Defense Agency announced that the report has not yet been read, but that one was confident to develop such a technology that will play an important role in the planned missile defense sign.
The experts deny that a defense, which sets the launch of long-distance missiles during the firing phase, really effective. The problem is above all the short time window, because the phase takes just three or four minutes. To enable the starting rockets, which, however, can be easily detected in this phase, the firing missiles must not only be much faster than now be, but also in the near the launch site. Here, after the experts, there was still a certain possibility when the enemy missiles are equipped with a flux fuel drive, the long burning. But in 10 to 15 years, until the corresponding missile defense was set up by the US, Landers like North Korea or Iran may already be in possession of festive-fuel drives, which consent the time of the focal phase so that a shot is no longer possible.
A defense of missiles with such drives is, according to the report, "virtually unlikely, if all factors are considered, regardless of where the firing missiles are". UNIGIG was rough, extremely fast and accelerating missiles themselves in the case of a small country like North Korea, where the distance between the launch and the target rocket is not rough. Even with space-based kill missiles, the case is no different. With the technology, which probably could be developed in 15 years, not only a correspondingly fast and rough kill Vehicle had to be shot down, but thousands to make a single enemy rocket reliable. Although the airborne laser goods suitable for the launch of flux fuel missiles when he is close enough, but against solid-fuel missiles helpless.
Fruhwarn radar station of the missile defense shield
Even at a time of four minutes from the end of the rocket to the end of the firing phase, the time window is really smaller. At least 45 seconds, if not 65 seconds or more long, to discover the launch of a rocket and recognize its direction of flight. Already 40 seconds before the end of the focal phase, the rocket may have given the required drive the required drive to reach the required drive to achieve the USA. However, before a defensive rocket can be started, a certain decision-making time is also necessary for the technical vote. But since, for example, long-distance rockets and space missiles have similar flight characteristics, they can not be distinguished from the systems. So it had to be shot off all missiles for safety’s sake, unless previously known that it is a safe rocket.
Generally, the report ames that, for example, the sea-built AEGIS system can only be used on short and medium-range missiles, which are highly shot down highest few dozens of kilometers away. And completely unused, though missiles are already destroyed in the focal phase, which passes with the nuclear, chemical, biological blasting push caps that can fall down over densely populated areas.
Daniel Kleppner, physicist of the with and co-chair of the expert group, emphasizes that only the facts wanted to put together. Myriam Sarachnik, Prasident of the APs, explains that with rough investment in weapon systems, it is crucial to consider their technical transferability: "The APS hopes that this report will contribute to the evaluation whether to develop firing phase defense systems." Much more clearly, it is only just right that the rustic project is actually a gigantic waste of money.