The main reason why neither the US nor Japan tried to intercept a North Korean missile fired over Hokkaido on September 15 is that they couldn’t.
Missile expert Joe Cirincione says in an analysis on Defense One that any attempt to hit the intermediate-range ballistic missile was problematic since it was already too high for US-made Aegis or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile systems to destroy.
“Neither Japan nor the United States could have intercepted the missile. None of the theater ballistic missile defense weapons in existence can reach that high. It is hundreds of kilometers too high for the Aegis interceptors deployed on Navy ships off Japan. Even higher for the THAAD systems in South Korea and Guam. Way too high for the Patriot systems in Japan, which engage largely within the atmosphere,” Cirincione wrote.
His analysis was echoed over the weekend on Japanese-language news websites and in the US press.
Cirincione notes that existing US anti-missile systems are basically designed to hit a missile in the post-mid-course or terminal phase. This is when the projectiles are on their way down and more or less headed straight at the interceptor system.
“Patriot is meant to protect relatively small areas such as ports or air bases; THAAD defends a larger area; the advanced Aegis system theoretically could defend thousands of square kilometers,” he said.
Cirincione says the only window for hitting such missiles is during the initial launch phase. But even here, the odds of hitting the target aren’t good. “There is almost no chance of hitting a North Korean missile on its way up unless an Aegis ship was deployed very close to the launch point, perhaps in North Korean waters,” Cirincione said.
Mansoor Aftab been hearing that for ten years. You’ll be dead before that happens
BS, there are less than 20,000 troops in Afghanistan now and most used for training and not fighting the Talibans. It’s up to the Afghan army to do their jobs. Nevertheless, Talibans still can’t win and pay dearly for their goal of imposing the 14th century laws on Afghan ‘s people!
Aondohemba Godwin Mnyim
Chinese military cannot be compared to that of the US not on any scale
Kerry Richards Nobody like USA… USA want hegemony and wants to control the entire world economically and militarily. The whole world has sympathies with NK.
What will you guys do with all these power. If you don’t have an earth to live. America may be strong.. So can be China.. UK,… Etc… But a lot many countries including these power hungry countries can blow up a few bombs that can make earth not habitable. Then what… Will you guys sip coffee on a radiation zone. Man this is……
When the time comes you will know the strength of the US.
Young man, point of correction. China is not the next super power, China is already the super power! Do you know what makes a country super? Economy, military strength, capability, population etc, china is got it all than US.
No problem. They will hit it when it re enters Earth atmosphere.
Kerry Richards
Obviously in CHINESE YUAN CNY because China is the next super power.
Within 5 – 8 years China will get #1 position surpassing USA.
So why to trade in us $????
Yes as we know that U.S damn care of its allies. The only reason to pressurize north Korea is to come closer to China & Russia to show them that we are very powerful.
But shame on U.S because they can’t handle tiny North Korea so how can they handle the next super power "China".
They should also realize that they’re in Afghanistan for the last 15 years with 150,0000 NATTO troops with full supply line of Arms & ammunition but still more than 50% Afghanistan is under Taliban control. Haahhahahaha. It’s a big big shame on you USA lol.
So north Korea, China, Russia, Iran , Pakistan is way beyond their imagination.
Taliban, alquaida, ISIS are made by U.S itself. So why are you now going after them.?????
Many experts knows that U.S is not capable of hitting ballistic missiles.
THAAD is piece of junk which is made up of billions of dollars of U.S citizens.
I think if KIM jong un attack it’s missiles loaded with hydrogen bomb towards US mainland then Americans can’t safe their citizen.
S-400, S-500 are way beyond THAAD but atill they might not hit the target with 100% accuracy.
Kerry Richards ko brain thulo chha tara vichara ko brain goo le bhariyeko chha !!!
You’re am idiot.not enough oxygen has affected your tiny brain
So listen dopey. What currency di you trade in? Or do you barter like the North Koreans?
You can not be so sure, no nobody starts as the best, but everyone can become best in it, for me, north Korea is too immature to handle nukes, but if they don’t , who will? Every country is scared to go into nuclear programme because of the fear of sanctions but strong determination of north Korea is one needed to balance it up, may be, north Korea be made a world power to ease tension I believe US will not go down with this idea because they have an agenda (conspiracy theory) or new world order, one world government.
Hindi ko maunawaan ang pinagsasabi nitong Cirincione na ito. Magkakontra ang kanyang mga sinasabi, ang alam ko hindi manual ang operation ng anti ballistic missiles!
All the best to North Korea. NK is ASIAN pride.
A stronger north Korea is good for world peace, US wants to control everything with a devil on their dollar, the conspiracy theory.
it won’t matter much as long as it can’t reach its target.
Tell us something we don’t know