Near-term boost-phase defense sensitivities
Boost-phase defenses are sensitive to offensive and defensive parameters. For distributed silos and mobile heavy missiles, about 25% of the weapons should penetrate the boost phase, which would require midcourse defenses. Concentration of heavy mobiles before launch would not impact that. Single-missile mobiles are less attractive targets and should penetrate near-term defenses, but second waves of fixed or compact mobile heavy missiles would be overwhelmed. For nominal costs and performance, combined defenses have adequate margin, but degraded space-based interceptor (SBI) performance or increased sensor costs would eliminate it. Discrimination could keep costs in balance while defending useful numbers of targets. 26 refs., 18 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/DP
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6184418
- Report Number(s):
- LA-11859-MS; ON: DE91008999
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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