Does it Work Or Not? The US Antimissile Shield Program

The current President of the United States is all for the U.S. Antimissile Defense Shield. The one he critized under the previous Bush administration.

But now he is all for it. But it might not yet be really operational.

President Obama has his heart set on the SM-3 rocket-powered interceptor as part of his push to reduced this nations nuclear arsenal. But critics from M.I.T. and Cornell have their doubts about the new system.

Basically, the SM-3 has to hit the incoming warhead-problem might be with this is that the incoming nuclear warhead might still detonate when the impact takes place. Ooops!?

Say it ain't so Uncle Santa! For the rest of the article, use the link below.

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Ref. The New York Times, "Review Cites Flaws in U.S. Antimissile Program" By William J. Broad and David E. Sanger, May 17, 2010 (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/world/18missile.html?pagewanted=1&hp).

US Navy Test Launches Interceptor Missiles

The USS Hopper successful test fired a interceptor missile (known as a SM-3 Block 1A missile) off the island of Kauai, Hawaii. The three stage missile shot down the test missile launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai. The intercept took place about 100 miles above the Pacific Ocean. This marked the 23rd such firing by ships equipped with the Aegis ballistic missile defense system. Last year, the intecptor missile even shot down a dead US spy satellite.

Another US Navy ship, the USS Lake Erie used another SM-3 Block 1B missile this time. The 1B features improved propulsion system and has a better signal processor. ANd the warhead seeker is better too.

This is in response to North Korea on July 4th violating the UN Security Council resolutions by launching seven ballistic missiles into waters off of North Korea's eastern coastline.

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Ref. Daily Mail (UK) on July 31, 2009 article by their Foreign Service(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1203370/Pictured-U-S-missile-defence-test-hailed-success-North-Korea-tensions-rise.html).

Photo is a AP picture that was with the orignal article.