Russians move SRBMs to Kaliningrad

[*michaelsean*]

(12-15-2016, 08:22 PM)Bengalzona Wrote: Hopefully.

But consider this. During the late 1970's, the British Navy was highly concerned about their ships' vulnerability to the increasing number of anti-ship missiles. They developed two ship-board weapon systems to counter these: the Sea Dart missile defense system and the Abbey Hill electronic warfare system. They conducted trials of these systems and eventually incorporated them into their most modern destroyer class, the HMS Sheffield class. The Royal Navy boasted that no missile could penetrate the combined systems.

In 1982, the HMS Sheffield itself was sent along with the fleet to fight in the Falklands. On May 4, 1982, Sheffield was struck by a single Exocet missile carried by an Argentine Super Etendard aircraft. Six days later it foundered and sank due to the damage.

And then there was the story of the M247 Sgt. York air defense weapon system in the 1980's. Testing reports of the system were grossly exaggerated and faults in the system were covered up by contractors and Army procurement officials. Fortunately, this was discovered just before the weapon was actually fielded with the troops.

There was a lot of debate about whether the "Star Wars" anti-ballistic missile system would work back in the 80's (as well as debate about the legality of developing since it violated the terms of our START reaty with the Soviets). This was proposed as a multi-layered missile defense system. Parts of it (Aegis and Sprint ABM defense missiles) worked to a reasonable degree (reasonable being somewhat less than 100%). Orbiting satellite laser defense systems did not (and still do not) work. They were, however, useful as hype to intimidate the Soviets.

The Patriot system has been the land-based workhorse of the Army for the past 25 years (and is planned to stay until 2040 with upgrades). But it didn't start out well. The House Government Operations Subcommittee on Legislation and National Security concluded:



We stuck with the Patriot system, however, choosing to upgrade it (with the help of the Israelis). In Operation Iraqi Freedom, we used them to intercept some Iraqi made tactical ballistic missiles. We also used them to shoot down a Royal Air Force Tornado and a US Navy F-18.

Apparently, it works better now. At least it has for the Israelis, who have used them to shoot down two Hamas made UAVs and a Syrian Su-24.

My point in posting all of this is that we probably should take the hype about anti-missile weapons systems with a grain of salt.

Oh I don't even know that this one would work on the Russian thing.  Two completely different things I'd imagine.  But I always figure we have something in the works against anything they come up with before they come up with it.