morethanwhy

Apr 11 2012, 07:16 PM

The only effective antiICBM so far is another ICBM.

The fear of MAD keeps countries with ICBMs from launching one against the other.

Wardog

Apr 11 2012, 05:54 PM

Of course, the PAC-3 is a hit-to-kill weapon designed to collide with an incoming ballistic missile to destroy it, but only against tactical ballistic missiles, even the extended range variant will only have some degree of capability against theater ballistic missiles, not against ICBMs or its warheads:


http://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/usmissiledefense

Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)

PAC-3 is designed to defend against short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in their terminal stage at lower altitudes than the THAAD system.

During earlier developmental testing, the system struck nine out of 10 targets.
More challenging operational tests between February and May 2002 involved multiple interceptors and targets. Seven PAC-3s were to be fired at five targets; of the seven, two destroyed their targets, one hit but did not destroy its target, one missed its target, and three others did not launch.

PAC-3s destroyed two Iraqi short-range ballistic missiles during the 2003 conflict and shot down a U.S. fighter jet. Earlier Patriot models also deployed to the region shot down nine Iraqi missiles and a British combat aircraft.



The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense uses the SM-3 missile which is:

(from the same link above)

Initially, the Aegis BMD is geared toward defending against short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their midcourse phase with an emphasis on the ascent stage.

The Aegis system is capable of tracking ICBMs, but is not yet configured to intercept them.

The current SM-3 Block I is considered too slow to intercept a strategic ballistic missile.

A faster SM-3 is being developed that is intended to have some capability to intercept ICBMs. The upgraded SM-3, known as the Block IIB, is not expected until 2020.

Japan has to wait 9 years for a realistic chance to shoot down North Korea's rockets or ICBMs.

Quote:

 

But the NOKOR missile is not yet considered as an ICBM, rather the rocket test is a prelude to ICBM capability, even if it was just a satellite armed rocket (if indeed it was a true claim by nokor).

Whether the NoKor rocket is carrying a satellite or a dummy test warhead is not the issue. The issue is the rocket system launching the satellite into space is not that much different from the rocket system that launches intercontinental warheads. This is why the US,SoKor, Japan et al are vehemently against NoKor satellite launches because all the same its scientists and weapon engineers will still learn a lot from it to apply to its ICBM development.

israeli

Apr 13 2012, 09:02 AM

don't celebrate yet. the mere fact that the North Koreans deliberately tried to use the East Philippine Sea as a destination for their ballistic missile/rocket just revealed how vulnerable we are as a country because of our decrepit military.