8.2 Modern Space Weapons: Technical Possibilities and Limitations
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4. The missile is the most vulnerable, since its body actually forms the walls of fuel
tanks, which are protected from heat and mechanical (impact) loads much worse
than missiles.
In turn, the active segment of the trajectory is characterized by two main parameters—
the time required to reach the final speed and the altitude at which this speed is
reached.
The first parameter determines the required speed of preparation of the corresponding layer of the missile defense system for action, as well as the conventional
rate of fire, which the weapons shall have in case of a mass missile attack.
The second parameter determines the composition and characteristics of technical
means that can be used for target killing.
The important question here is whether this altitude is within the atmosphere or
beyond it.
Military specialists usually use the effective altitude, which is equal to 100 km,
for such calculations.
For ballistic missiles of the previous century, the standard time of flight in the
active segment amounted to be no more than three minutes, while the corresponding
height was within 250–350 km.
For modern missiles, according to the experts, these parameters are significantly
reduced: time—not more than 50 s; altitude—80–100 km. It shows that a missile can
be effectively fixed in this segment of the trajectory only from space.
8.2.2.2 Space Layer of Missile Defense
One of the most important characteristics of the so-called space battle stations (SBS)
designed to destroy enemy missiles in the active segment is the radius of action of
the weapons installed on such stations.
Moreover, there are a number of other equally important parameters that can be
referred to as ammunition reserve and rate of fire of the SBS in artillery terms.
Combination of these characteristics with the above parameters and the requirement according to which any point of the trajectory of a potential enemy (or the water
area where submarine rocket carriers of the enemy can be located) at any point in
time shall be in the field of view of at least one SBS, determines the total required
quantity of battle stations and the structure of their distribution in the near-Earth
space.
We should also note certain features of one of the substages of the active segment,
in which the separation occurs: separation of individual warheads from the body of the
launch vehicle (hereinafter—the platform) is accompanied by short-term operation
of the low-thrust engines, which allows surveillance system to detect the platform
and accurately identify its spatial position and the vector of movement speed in order
to analyze (calculate) further trajectory of its movement during subsequent moments
of time.
755
4. The missile is the most vulnerable, since its body actually forms the walls of fuel
tanks, which are protected from heat and mechanical (impact) loads much worse
than missiles.
In turn, the active segment of the trajectory is characterized by two main parameters—
the time required to reach the final speed and the altitude at which this speed is
reached.
The first parameter determines the required speed of preparation of the corresponding layer of the missile defense system for action, as well as the conventional
rate of fire, which the weapons shall have in case of a mass missile attack.
The second parameter determines the composition and characteristics of technical
means that can be used for target killing.
The important question here is whether this altitude is within the atmosphere or
beyond it.
Military specialists usually use the effective altitude, which is equal to 100 km,
for such calculations.
For ballistic missiles of the previous century, the standard time of flight in the
active segment amounted to be no more than three minutes, while the corresponding
height was within 250–350 km.
For modern missiles, according to the experts, these parameters are significantly
reduced: time—not more than 50 s; altitude—80–100 km. It shows that a missile can
be effectively fixed in this segment of the trajectory only from space.
8.2.2.2 Space Layer of Missile Defense
One of the most important characteristics of the so-called space battle stations (SBS)
designed to destroy enemy missiles in the active segment is the radius of action of
the weapons installed on such stations.
Moreover, there are a number of other equally important parameters that can be
referred to as ammunition reserve and rate of fire of the SBS in artillery terms.
Combination of these characteristics with the above parameters and the requirement according to which any point of the trajectory of a potential enemy (or the water
area where submarine rocket carriers of the enemy can be located) at any point in
time shall be in the field of view of at least one SBS, determines the total required
quantity of battle stations and the structure of their distribution in the near-Earth
space.
We should also note certain features of one of the substages of the active segment,
in which the separation occurs: separation of individual warheads from the body of the
launch vehicle (hereinafter—the platform) is accompanied by short-term operation
of the low-thrust engines, which allows surveillance system to detect the platform
and accurately identify its spatial position and the vector of movement speed in order
to analyze (calculate) further trajectory of its movement during subsequent moments
of time.