Re: Interceptor downs missile in test over Pacific


Jerry Okamura wrote:
<dezakin@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1157414230.465396.5350@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jerry Okamura wrote:
<dezakin@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1157407683.570367.204760@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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.


So, if you release these "ballons" outside of the atmosphere, what
happens
to these ballons?

Its ordinary physics without drag until reentry. The balloons and the
warhead (wrapped inside an identical balloon) all follow a ballistic
arc looking identical to radar, until they hit the atmosphere, where
the balloons rapidly decelerate from drag. Then you can tell the
balloons from the warhead in the terminal phase. The only problem is
the terminal phase only lasts about 30 seconds.

I asked what happens when you release the balloon outside the atmosphere?
Also as far as I can recall, no one mentioned "wrapping a bolloon withing a
balloon". But I do not see where a balloon inside another balloon would act
any differenty than one balloon....what am I missing?

You dont wrap a balloon in another balloon, you wrap the warhead in a
balloon. This makes it indistinguishable from the decoys to radar.

.

Relevant Pages

  • 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
    ... that one needs to solve in targeting an ICBM. ... I understand decoys, but ballons? ... whole lot slower than the missile or its warhead itself....what am ... 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. ...
    (soc.retirement)
  • Re: Interceptor downs missile in test over Pacific
    ... that one needs to solve in targeting an ICBM. ... decoys are a part of that strategy because they are light weight ... whole lot slower than the missile or its warhead itself....what am ... warhead (wrapped inside an identical balloon) all follow a ballistic ...
    (soc.retirement)
  • 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. ...
    (soc.retirement)