8.2 Modern Space Weapons: Technical Possibilities and Limitations
757
Table 8.1 Comparative analysis of trajectory segments of ballistic missiles from the point of view
of selection of missile defense basing means [1]
Trajectory
segment
Flight duration
(s)
Duration of
movement in
the
atmosphere
(s)
Number of
missile defense
targets
(without
considering the
action of the
previous layer)
Main targets
Best place for
basing
Active
50–200
50–150
Minimum
Fuel tanks of
launch
vehicles
Space-based
Ballistic
From 150
(at flat
trajectories of
under 1000)
No
Maximum
(more than
100x
amplification)
Warheads (if
the target
selection task
is solved) or
all objects
Space-based
End
40–100
Fully
2–3 times
bigger than the
minimum (but
the targets are
already
distributed in
space)
Warheads
Ground-based
or space-based
– Laser weapons (the energy is released in a relatively thin surface layer of the
target);
– Beam weapons (deeper penetration of the energy into the material of the target);
– Kinetic weapons (ballistic or homing projectiles accelerating to extreme speeds
and causing mechanical damages to targets);
– Electromagnetic weapons (EMP, millimeter range waves, particle streams).
The experts cited the following advantages of laser weapons as a missile defense
element:
(a) Nearly immediate impact (the energy is transmitted with the speed of the light);
(b) Gravity field of the Earth has nearly no effect on the trajectory of energy beans;
(c) Long distance of destruction.
All these factors can be theoretically used in solving missile defence tasks in the best
way.
However, all types of laser weapons described in openly published sources also
have very significant disadvantages. Laser beams affect only the surface layer of the
target material, which generally allows to effectively destroy thin-walled barriers—
walls of missile fuel tanks, plating of aircrafts (planes and helicopters), walls of
strategic fuel storage facilities (oil and gas storages), etc. by heat or shock (for pulse
lasers) effects.
757
Table 8.1 Comparative analysis of trajectory segments of ballistic missiles from the point of view
of selection of missile defense basing means [1]
Trajectory
segment
Flight duration
(s)
Duration of
movement in
the
atmosphere
(s)
Number of
missile defense
targets
(without
considering the
action of the
previous layer)
Main targets
Best place for
basing
Active
50–200
50–150
Minimum
Fuel tanks of
launch
vehicles
Space-based
Ballistic
From 150
(at flat
trajectories of
under 1000)
No
Maximum
(more than
100x
amplification)
Warheads (if
the target
selection task
is solved) or
all objects
Space-based
End
40–100
Fully
2–3 times
bigger than the
minimum (but
the targets are
already
distributed in
space)
Warheads
Ground-based
or space-based
– Laser weapons (the energy is released in a relatively thin surface layer of the
target);
– Beam weapons (deeper penetration of the energy into the material of the target);
– Kinetic weapons (ballistic or homing projectiles accelerating to extreme speeds
and causing mechanical damages to targets);
– Electromagnetic weapons (EMP, millimeter range waves, particle streams).
The experts cited the following advantages of laser weapons as a missile defense
element:
(a) Nearly immediate impact (the energy is transmitted with the speed of the light);
(b) Gravity field of the Earth has nearly no effect on the trajectory of energy beans;
(c) Long distance of destruction.
All these factors can be theoretically used in solving missile defence tasks in the best
way.
However, all types of laser weapons described in openly published sources also
have very significant disadvantages. Laser beams affect only the surface layer of the
target material, which generally allows to effectively destroy thin-walled barriers—
walls of missile fuel tanks, plating of aircrafts (planes and helicopters), walls of
strategic fuel storage facilities (oil and gas storages), etc. by heat or shock (for pulse
lasers) effects.