Strategic defense requirements for progressive applications
A companion paper discusses various applications for which strategic defense concepts could be used. The applications form a progression in size and complexity from accidental or unauthorized launches, through third country or subnational threats, to limited or strategic exchanges. This report attempts to quantify the requirements for meeting those applications and to assess the maturity of current strategic defense concepts relative to them, concluding that there are adequate interceptors for all of them, but that sensitivities to uncertainties in discrimination are awkward at all levels and bothersome at the high end. Strategic defenses are applicable to a progression of threats that range from accidental or unauthorized launches, through third country or subnational threats, to limited or strategic exchanges. Technologies exist for long range launches, but launches close to shore are feasible, stressing, and favor the attacker. Space based interceptors are suited to meeting the bulk of the launches; directed energy has significant advantages in reducing the threat to manageable levels. Current interceptor concepts appear adequate, but discrimination is both pivotal and delayed. 38 refs., 10 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6218634
- Report Number(s):
- LA-11830-MS; ON: DE91009045
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
MILITARY STRATEGY
SPACE WEAPONS
LASER WEAPONS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TERRORISM
DIRECTED-ENERGY WEAPONS
NATIONAL DEFENSE
WEAPONS
450500* - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Strategic Defense Initiative- (1990-)