Five SM-3s delivered to USN

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2005-01-07 01:53pm

Guardsman Bass wrote:This may be a stupid question, but when they referred to the missiles as an ABM system, were they thinking of nuclear-tipped missiles, or just ballistic missiles a la cruise missiles? It seems like it would be the latter, as the threat of a nuclear missile hit on a fleet seems kind of low.

Theater Ballistic Missile Defense. Shooting down ballistic missiles. SM-2
already handles cruise missiles easily.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2005-01-07 04:20pm

Guardsman Bass wrote:This may be a stupid question, but when they referred to the missiles as an ABM system, were they thinking of nuclear-tipped missiles, or just ballistic missiles a la cruise missiles? It seems like it would be the latter, as the threat of a nuclear missile hit on a fleet seems kind of low.

Cruise missles are not ballistic missles. They have an active path to follow and are powered along it, hence the cruise part. A ballistic missle however does not, it follows a ballistic trajectory through the air, it's flight is actually closer to that of a thrown object than anything.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2005-01-08 11:17am

MKSheppard wrote:
Despite the fact that 550 armored humvees are being built a month right now?

Before the Iraq war, it was 50 a month. Yes, 500 extra humvees a month
is "sucking money away from the troops"

Too bad those armored Humvees are inadequate to protect the troops. Using a utility vehicle as an armoured car has it's limits. Fortunatly the M113A3 will be on the scene soon and they can relegate the Humvees back to their proper role.