Re: Interceptor downs missile in test over Pacific

Jerry Okamura wrote:
"Islander" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
Good grief Jerry! You have it backwards. There are a number of problems
that one needs to solve in targeting an ICBM. One of these is the release
of decoy targets by the ICBM to confuse interceptor missiles. Balloon
decoys are a part of that strategy because they are light weight (soas to
not take up too much of the payload) and because they disperse rapidly and
continue traveling at close to the same rate of speed as the warhead in
the rarefied atmosphere at the apogee where critical targeting is done.
Add to this the practice of using multiple warheads, aimed at different
targets and you have a very confusing mixture of targets and decoys. At a
minimum this delays targeting until the ICBM is further in its trajectory,
even with the technical approaches that Earl has mentioned.

I understand decoys, but ballons? Even if you released ballons, as part of
the missile it would seem to me, that they would very soon start to go a
whole lot slower than the missile or its warhead itself....what am I
missing?

In the ballistic phase, you're operating outside of the atmosphere
where drag is negligable.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Interceptor downs missile in test over Pacific
    ... of decoy targets by the ICBM to confuse interceptor missiles. ... the rarefied atmosphere at the apogee where critical targeting is done. ... targets and you have a very confusing mixture of targets and decoys. ... Even if you released ballons, ...
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  • Re: Interceptor downs missile in test over Pacific
    ... that one needs to solve in targeting an ICBM. ... targets and you have a very confusing mixture of targets and decoys. ... you're operating outside of the atmosphere ... warhead (wrapped inside an identical balloon) all follow a ballistic ...
    (soc.retirement)
  • Re: Interceptor downs missile in test over Pacific
    ... the rarefied atmosphere at the apogee where critical targeting is done. ... targets and you have a very confusing mixture of targets and decoys. ... whole lot slower than the missile or its warhead itself....what am I ... the balloons rapidly decelerate from drag. ...
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  • Re: Interceptor downs missile in test over Pacific
    ... that one needs to solve in targeting an ICBM. ... continue traveling at close to the same rate of speed as the warhead ... targets and you have a very confusing mixture of targets and decoys. ... warhead (wrapped inside an identical balloon) all follow a ballistic ...
    (soc.retirement)
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