"Not to deploy a system that does not work" - Page 2

Bill Nichols · 03-28-07, 02:46 PM

I work on the missile defense program and I can assure you that intercepting an ICBM warhead is not only possible, but has been done many times.

Some neat videos here for the unbelieving:

http://www.mda.mil/mdalink/html/video.html

More info at the MDA home page: http://www.mda.mil/mdalink/html/mdalink.html

Skybird · 03-28-07, 04:04 PM

Not fighting here, Bill, I am just curious, so could you comment on this excerpt from the interview, then? And do you have knowledge about the guy being interviewed? BTW, I did not doubt that a single ICBM can be hit, under optimal conditions. I remember that it was on the news a longer while back.

SPIEGEL: The US military claims that the system has been tested and works fine.
Coyle: I understand that they say that, but all you have to do is look at their most recent test. It was successful, but it was also the least difficult test they have ever conducted. They are no further along today than they were back when I was in the Pentagon during the Clinton Administration.
(...)
SPIEGEL: Why is it so difficult to hit a missile in space?
Coyle: It is like trying to hit a hole-in-one in golf. Only the hole is going 15,000 miles an hour. The US military has done it in some carefully scripted tests. But those were simulations and the mock enemy also did not use realistic decoys
(...)
And, to return to the golf analogy, that would be as if the hole and the green were both going 15,000 miles mph, the green covered with black circles, and you do not know what to aim for.

And Coyle did not even mention what I called "over-flooding the defense" with real missiles, not decoys.

ASWnut101 · 03-28-07, 04:17 PM

Coyle?

Tchocky · 03-28-07, 04:19 PM

"In the Clinton administration, Philip E. Coyle was in charge of weapons testing and evaluation. SPIEGEL spoke with the 72-year-old about Bush's planned missile defense system, why Russia feels threatened and how shooting down missiles is like playing golf."

From the first post of the thread.

ASWnut101 · 03-28-07, 04:20 PM

Never saw that part. Interesting.

August · 03-28-07, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tchocky

"In the Clinton administration, Philip E. Coyle was in charge of weapons testing and evaluation. SPIEGEL spoke with the 72-year-old about Bush's planned missile defense system, why Russia feels threatened and how shooting down missiles is like playing golf."

You got to wonder how the Russians would feel threatened by a system that according to our forum warriors can't work...

03-28-07, 02:46 PM	#16
Bill Nichols Master of Defense Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,502 Downloads: 125 Uploads: 0	I work on the missile defense program and I can assure you that intercepting an ICBM warhead is not only possible, but has been done many times. Some neat videos here for the unbelieving: http://www.mda.mil/mdalink/html/video.html More info at the MDA home page: http://www.mda.mil/mdalink/html/mdalink.html __________________ My Dangerous Waters website:

03-28-07, 04:04 PM	#17
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,629 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Not fighting here, Bill, I am just curious, so could you comment on this excerpt from the interview, then? And do you have knowledge about the guy being interviewed? BTW, I did not doubt that a single ICBM can be hit, under optimal conditions. I remember that it was on the news a longer while back. SPIEGEL: The US military claims that the system has been tested and works fine. Coyle: I understand that they say that, but all you have to do is look at their most recent test. It was successful, but it was also the least difficult test they have ever conducted. They are no further along today than they were back when I was in the Pentagon during the Clinton Administration. (...) SPIEGEL: Why is it so difficult to hit a missile in space? Coyle: It is like trying to hit a hole-in-one in golf. Only the hole is going 15,000 miles an hour. The US military has done it in some carefully scripted tests. But those were simulations and the mock enemy also did not use realistic decoys (...) And, to return to the golf analogy, that would be as if the hole and the green were both going 15,000 miles mph, the green covered with black circles, and you do not know what to aim for. And Coyle did not even mention what I called "over-flooding the defense" with real missiles, not decoys. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

03-28-07, 04:17 PM	#18
ASWnut101 Admiral Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,021 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Coyle? __________________

03-28-07, 04:19 PM	#19
Tchocky Navy Seal Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,874 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	"In the Clinton administration, Philip E. Coyle was in charge of weapons testing and evaluation. SPIEGEL spoke with the 72-year-old about Bush's planned missile defense system, why Russia feels threatened and how shooting down missiles is like playing golf." From the first post of the thread. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

03-28-07, 04:20 PM	#20
ASWnut101 Admiral Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,021 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Never saw that part. Interesting. __________________