History, Politics And Current Affairs

One of the major defense decisions taken by the U.S. after the Third World War was to construct an ABM system. Fortunately, the old plans for the SAFEGUARD system were sitting in archives, so those plans were dusted off, refined, and Congress appropriated funds for the system. While never meant to defend against an all-out attack by the Rump Soviet State or even the FER, the system was meant to defend against a limited attack, a maximum attack from North Korea should they develop ICBMs, or even an accidental launch. Though nuclear in terms of warheads, the original 5 MT warhead for Spartan was replaced by a much lower warhead in the kiloton range, to minimize potential EMP effects on the ground from a "Friendly" warhead.

A similar system has been developed by the UK, which borrowed the radars and engagement systems from SAFEGUARD, but with UK-designed missiles and warheads.

Two additional sites were deployed to protect the Southern U.S. Border from possible TBM strikes as well as from ICBM or SLBM attack: one site is in the Navajo Nation near the AZ-NM border, and the other is in the San Antonio area.

There are persistent rumors that Spartan's warhead is a "third generation" weapon, relying on generating one or more laser beams in the X-ray or gamma range of the spectrum. The Department of Energy and the US Army refuse to confirm or deny these reports.

At least it is not named the ‘Golden Dome’ missile shield.

Poohbah wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 5:23 am There are persistent rumors that Spartan's warhead is a "third generation" weapon, relying on generating one or more laser beams in the X-ray or gamma range of the spectrum. The Department of Energy and the US Army refuse to confirm or deny these reports.

Bomb-pumped laser warheads (laserheads) are just science fiction, Poohbah. That said, it sounds like you’ve been reading David Weber’s Honor Harrington novels…

Wolfman wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 2:25 pm

Poohbah wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 5:23 am There are persistent rumors that Spartan's warhead is a "third generation" weapon, relying on generating one or more laser beams in the X-ray or gamma range of the spectrum. The Department of Energy and the US Army refuse to confirm or deny these reports.

Bomb-pumped laser warheads (laserheads) are just science fiction, Poohbah. That said, it sounds like you’ve been reading David Weber’s Honor Harrington novels…

The mathematics end of the physics apparently work, the physical end (actually making the lasing media) may be beyond modern manufacturing technology.

There are also rumors that the warhead is based on the "Casaba Howitzer" nuclear pumped plasma concept, again neither confirmed nor denied.

Thanks to datalinks, the UK's system is tied into NORAD's. And both proved themselves the night the Rump USSR ended.

Matt Wiser wrote: ↑Sat Apr 19, 2025 7:39 am Thanks to datalinks, the UK's system is tied into NORAD's. And both proved themselves the night the Rump USSR ended.

They also where active during the Colonel stupid idea to launch some missiles if i remember correctly.

Why do some of the PARS have 1 or 2 faces when others, even in the interior have 4?

That was the original concept: TTL they all have four.