An SM-3 missile launched from an Aegis cruiser (Image: Rex Features)From New Scientist:
US hopes of one day shooting down hostile nuclear missiles, long dubbed the "Star Wars" project, seemed to crash and burn after President Barack Obama cancelled US plans for missile defence in Europe last week. But Star Wars is not dead. Instead, Obama has a new plan that may finally make it realistic.
The original idea was that by 2015, 10 missile launchers would be installed in Poland to shoot down intermediate and long-range nuclear missiles (ICBMs), guided by high-definition radar in the Czech Republic. The technology was to be based on interceptors tested in Alaska and California. But those had a success rate of only 50 per cent, under unrealistically favourable conditions.
My Comment: I expect more articles and analysis coming from engineers and scientists on the issue of missile defense in the next few weeks. I am definitely looking forward to their input, because I am now just burnt out from listening to the politicians and pundits talking about this nonstop for the past two weeks.