Posts by Andy McCruden

US missile defences in successful Pacific test

SM-2 vs SM-3 ?

It's a slight misnomer to Refer to the SM-2 Block III as an Older Version of the SM-3, As I understand it the SM-3 is pretty much a dedicated Anti-Ballistic Missile weapon whereas SM-2 is primaily an Anti-Cruise-Missile and Anti-Aircraft weapon (with a secondary ability to be used on surface ships as far as the horizon) with no signifcant Anti Ballistic Missile role and little in common between the two, except that they are fired from the same multipurpose Vertical Launcher that launches almost all the US Navy's current surface lanched missiles, including Tomahawks and Anti Submarine Missiles.

Why are they desgnated as Missiles in the same series at all? probably a fudge to make it seem as if its a lower risk/cost development to Congress compared to an all-new design and thus less liely to be canceled.

Engineers write defence against aliens manual

But then

The problem with Aliens just droping huge asteriods on us is this: it will make the planet pretty unusable to them until all the dust settles (which would take decades IIRC).

Obviously if they don't CARE about having a usuable planet, then they can wipe us out pretty easily, but if the planet isn't much use why bother with us at all?

OTOH While dinosaur-killer (or larger) sized projectiles might not be applicable, I doubt it'd be much fun trying to defend a planet against a enemy who can lob smaller projectiles from high orbit onto any concetration of forces you could muster.... Which in general makes me think that if Interstellar war DOES happen fighting on actual planets would be largely a desparation measure.