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.
Aondohemba Godwin Mnyim ~ China hasn’t yet reached a superpower status. For one to fit the superpower bill, one must be able to launch preemptive attack(s) anywhere in the world at any time without the help of anyone. So far only two countries has that cabability, the US and…u guessed right, Russia .
Well he could be right and he could also be wrong. Kasi, sa tatlong missile defense systems na sinabi ni Cirincione, isa lang ang nasubokan na sa actual combat, iyang patriot missiles na yan duon sa Gulf War. Expected na na mas magaling itong PAC-3 kesa sa ginamit nila sa Gulf War kasi upgraded version ito nung patriots. Pero itong THAAD saka Aegis, simulated intercepts palang ang nagawa, wala pang actual combat record, siguro ito ang gustong panoorin at obserbahan ng mga CHinese saka Russians na gamitin nga US.
It is a bait. China and Russia are watching. They could be using NoKor as bait to see how r US air defence system’s capability work in actual combat. Yes, these systems THAAD and Aegis are tested but only during peacetime exercises or some sort of simulated intercepts. Of these three, only the old patriot batteries system saw real action during the Gulf War, PAC-3 is expected to be more capable than its predecessor, so eliminate this system on what the Chinese and Russians are trying to see. These two remains to be tested shooting down an enemy missile.
VIVA NORTH KORES
@Gus Vongsavath
Reading history is order for u.
North Korea has never attacked anyone. They are not a threat.
@Onefifty Onefifty Haines
Eh hahaha???? and when will that be? The US has being beating up weak military countries putting up a show and u think that is a demonstration of power?
@Ichha Poudyel
$$$$ speaking????
@Ademola Falade
Like they did in the 50s and are still here. The US is just a bully hiding under the skirts of south Korea to buster. I think a history reading lesson is in order for you. Do not believe everything u see on national geographic channel on the "supremacy " of the US millitry.
Ichha Poudyel …all you say is very correct.he even murders his own family and yet these fools accuse me of belonging to asatanic country!haha…..do these people live in the real world? Talk about being indoctrinated
Shakeel Ahmad I wud prefer USA over North Korea. At USA does not kill someone for postering some letters on wall. Kim has starved his people and its time they got rid of him. Those asians writing against usa please boycott the USAID and other support US IS GIVING. US put enough pressure on worlds infamous dictators to change. when USa threatened Burma is now ready to take back people it displaced. So.etimes evil can be good in some ways
Emeka Eziowelle So only No. Korean news is your only source of information hahh. GDP of No. Korea was about 28 billion dollars in 2016 and rank 125th (nominal)/ 96th (PPP) according to Wikipedia and this could tell you how rich/poor No. Korea is!
NK is defending its terretory leave them in peace
Aondohemba Godwin Mnyim You need to pull your head out of the whole, dude! Corruptions in Africa and the West are incompatible and you need to go back to school to learn more!
Tell me which major battles that the US army had been defeated? Khe Sanh? No, nara… Don’t talk nonsense when you don’t even have anything to proof that!
Philip Bracq but none for No. Korea!
Aondohemba Godwin Mnyim The defeated country will pay for war debt and have you seen any war debt payment from the US to Vietnam? Zero, nara… The US left Vietnam two years from Paris’ Treaty or something like that before the North took over the South from So. Vietnam’s force. The US have never been defeated in any war included Vietnam’s. If you saw one, point it to me in which major battles in Vietnam that the US forces had been defeated?
Buy a new brain, Bro.
Both China and Russia have.
Onefifty Onefifty Haines
🙂 ????????????????????????????