ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Why Russia's ballistic-missile defense works and the US's kinda doesn't

"We have to actually hit a bullet with a bullet," a former US nuclear officer said. But Russia can miss by a half-mile and still get it.

A man and a child watch as the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system launches during a flight test from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

The US has spent $40 billion on the ground-based midcourse ballistic-missile-defense system.

By the end of 2017, the US wants to have 44 missile interceptors stationed in Alaska and California to fend off a possible nuclear-missile attack.

While the ground-based midcourse missile-defense system has had some success in tests, real-world conditions could easily stress the system to the max, leaving the US vulnerable to nuclear attacks.

On the other hand, Russia has 68 nuclear-tipped ballistic-missile interceptors around Moscow. US missiles interceptors do not have explosive payloads and have to actually slam into an incoming warhead to incapacitate it.

ADVERTISEMENT

"We have to actually hit a bullet with a bullet," Bruce Blair, a former US nuclear-launch officer and an expert on nuclear security, told Business Insider. "The general expert estimate is that any one interceptor in the US side would have no better than a 25% chance of making impact with a Russian nuclear warhead." So the US would have to fire at least four interceptors to every one missile threat.

So with the US's 44 interceptors, "at most you could destroy 11 warheads," Blair said, "and Russia could throw 1,000 at us."

But the Russian system, though horribly dangerous, works much better. According to Blair, because Russia's interceptors do explode with tremendous nuclear blasts, "

targeted at Moscow.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT