The Patriot Files Forums  

Go Back   The Patriot Files Forums > Military News > Homeland Security

Post New Thread  Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-05-2020, 09:12 AM
Boats's Avatar
Boats Boats is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sauk Village, IL
Posts: 21,784
Exclamation Could Air-Launched Nuclear Missiles Protect America From Attack?

Could Air-Launched Nuclear Missiles Protect America From Attack?
By: Kris Osborn - National Interest News - 08-05-20
Re: https://nationalinterest.org/blog/bu...-attack-166266

The military seems to think so according to a recent test with an E-6 plane.

Photo link: https://nationalinterest.org/sites/d...?itok=ZR2GvViI

Imagine if America’s land-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch silos were destroyed, its nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines have been found and neutralized, and its nuclear bombers cannot get over enemy airspace. All the while, during this nightmare, the continental United States itself is suffering a catastrophic nuclear weapons attack. This scenario is highly unlikely, but not impossible.

In such an event, there would be few or even zero options to retaliate against the aggressor to assure mutual destruction or simply halt the attack.

These types of contingencies point precisely to the reason why the U.S. nuclear triad exists. It is specifically constructed to ensure a decisive retaliatory strike. Such an ability, drawing upon nuclear-armed aircraft, land-based ICBMs and submarine-launched nuclear weapons, guarantees a massive response, thereby keeping the peace. Indeed, the U.S. nuclear triad has been effective for decades.

What if, as posited, there did not appear to be a way to launch nuclear weapons because all existing modes of nuclear attack and command and control were destroyed or neutralized? Would the United States be doomed to cataclysmic destruction?

Maybe not. The U.S. Air Force and Navy just tested an aircraft-mounted ICBM launcher able to fire off a massive nuclear attack from the air, using a technology called the Airborne Launch Control System.

An unarmed Minuteman III ICBM, equipped with three test reentry vehicles, was successfully launched from a Navy E-6 aircraft.

“A joint team of Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen and Navy sailors launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with three test reentry vehicles from aboard the Airborne Launch Control System at 12:21 a.m. Pacific Time Aug. 4 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California,” an Air Force report stated.

An air-coordinated launch brings new tactical mobility to the prospect of a nuclear attack, as an ICBM brings much more potential devastation than a smaller, air-dropped nuclear bomb from a B-2.

Also, air-launch can help optimize the launch process, given that ICBM silos are dispersed across a wide swath of three states, including expansive land areas in Montana and Wyoming. Should some ICBMs be disabled, an air launcher might be well suited to locate the best launch opportunities.

There is certainly no mistaking the current global tensions and threat environment, yet of course, the Air Force report was careful to include the “test launches are not a response or reaction to world events or regional tensions.”

The reentry vehicles traveled more than 4,000 miles during the test, in a clear demonstration of the intercontinental ability of the nuclear weapon.

Interesting that a Minuteman III was used, as the decades-old weapons have, according to many, long been in need of replacement. While it has been upgraded many times throughout the years and is still functional, the age of the weapon has provided at least part of the inspiration for the current Air Force Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program. The Air Force is now moving along with efforts to build as many as 400 new, high-tech, more capable ICBMs intended to bring U.S. nuclear weapons capability into a new era.

The Air Force’s GBSD is already testing prototypes and making rapid developmental progress with a new class of ICBM engineered with greater reliability, targeting and flight-path navigational stability.

The GBSD is still in development, so the Pentagon seeks to successfully sustain Minuteman III functionality.

“The Minuteman III is 50 years old, and continued test launches are essential in ensuring its reliability until the 2030s when the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent is fully in place. Most importantly, this visible message of national security serves to assure our allies and dissuade potential aggressors,” Colonel Omar Colbert, 576th Flight Test Squadron commander, said in the Air Force report.

About this writer: Kris Osborn is Defense Editor for the National Interest. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Personal note: Ya know every time I hear or read these scenario's - They say or reply; We can counter that from happening. (Really!) I've also read that supersonic missiles are now also available - and these are so quick that's its highly unlikely we could knock it down before it hits us. Talk like this bother's me - but it doesn't seem to bother many others.

A supersonic nuclear exchange will only destroy each other's societies. The end result will be nuclear contamination that will destroy any survivors.

The insecurity of so many so-called World Leader's - is usually after the fact.
You spent "Boo-Coo" monies to destroy one another - is senseless.

There will be "NO" Winner's! What makes you think you could survive a nuclear winter and then come out of you're holes in the ground - and live a normal life? Ludicrous thinking.

Mankind is it's own worst enemy. All the intelligence in the world "gifted only to make weapons" to destroy entire societies - yea and we call ourselves Human Being's!

God - you've pissed away more money for weapons to destroy each other; only to sacrifice your own people to suffer an in-survivable outcome. Your closed-looped mindset of world domination - has a no-win scenario.

We do things because we can! Why can't we do things to make our World a Better Planet!
Your power hungry ideals will only end one way - and you're too stupid to realize it!

Boats
__________________
Boats

O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:04 AM.


Powered by vBulletin, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.