If China wanted to drop a nuke in LA, how would they do it?

jEct2

Golden Member
Mar 1, 2005
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Leave your P&N stuff out the door, this is for sheer technical curiousity only.

How do they deploy nukes overseas?
Bring a plane and drop it or shoot a rocket containing the nuke?
What kind of rocket can travel for 20+ hours across the pacific sea?

How would US intercept it? What are some REAL detection barriers we have that is operating online?

Who would really notice if a small plane was to enter the LA bay?

 

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
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IIRC, they have Ballistic missiles, Not sure if they are intercontinental range, but considering they put a man into LEO, I'd bet they are.

As for our ability to intercept it. Now: No. Ten years from now: Probably.
 

jEct2

Golden Member
Mar 1, 2005
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Originally posted by: So
IIRC, they have Ballistic missiles, Not sure if they are intercontinental range, but considering they put a man into LEO, I'd bet they are.

As for our ability to intercept it. Now: No. Ten years from now: Probably.

Right, the sky over LA is too damn big to sweep on a daily basis... I figured.
 

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
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BTW: interception can be done two ways.

1. Reagan system: Satellite in orbit. Blow it up on takeoff with a laser. Make launching a nuke at the US == a dirty bomb on the nation that launched it
2. Bush Jr. System: Launch a missile at the missile as ot comes in. Dirty bomb on us, no boom.

Advantages of Reagan system: Ideal method of operation, but we don't have NEARLY powerful enough lasers and it would require satellites w/ nuclear reactors on board.
Advantages of Bush system: Much more possible with current technology, no orbiting nuclear powerstations.
 

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
25,921
14
81
Originally posted by: jEct2
Originally posted by: So
IIRC, they have Ballistic missiles, Not sure if they are intercontinental range, but considering they put a man into LEO, I'd bet they are.

As for our ability to intercept it. Now: No. Ten years from now: Probably.

Right, the sky over LA is too damn big to sweep on a daily basis... I figured.

:confused:
 

CaptnKirk

Lifer
Jul 25, 2002
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Originally posted by: no0b
Cargo ship container

But out to sea where the prevailing winds would provide the biggest distribution of contamination.

There's survival after a Nuke Attack - Nagasaki & Hiroshima are not abandoned death zones. They were point blank Nuked around 60 years ago, and they have been rebuilt.

The biggest impact would be to spread the largest pattern of contamination to force the receiving county to commit the most assets to the largest foot print in area and population. Break the resolve of those who live in the affected region. Everyone can't just pick up and leave.

 

jEct2

Golden Member
Mar 1, 2005
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Originally posted by: So
BTW: interception can be done two ways.

1. Reagan system: Satellite in orbit. Blow it up on takeoff with a laser. Make launching a nuke at the US == a dirty bomb on the nation that launched it
2. Bush Jr. System: Launch a missile at the missile as ot comes in. Dirty bomb on us, no boom.

Advantages of Reagan system: Ideal method of operation, but we don't have NEARLY powerful enough lasers and it would require satellites w/ nuclear reactors on board.
Advantages of Bush system: Much more possible with current technology, no orbiting nuclear powerstations.

Blow it up on take-off? How the hell do we know when they shoot one?
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
45,890
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Originally posted by: jEct2
Originally posted by: So
BTW: interception can be done two ways.

1. Reagan system: Satellite in orbit. Blow it up on takeoff with a laser. Make launching a nuke at the US == a dirty bomb on the nation that launched it
2. Bush Jr. System: Launch a missile at the missile as ot comes in. Dirty bomb on us, no boom.

Advantages of Reagan system: Ideal method of operation, but we don't have NEARLY powerful enough lasers and it would require satellites w/ nuclear reactors on board.
Advantages of Bush system: Much more possible with current technology, no orbiting nuclear powerstations.

Blow it up on take-off? How the hell do we know when they shoot one?

Infared tracking satallites already provide early launch warnings.
 

Sheepathon

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2003
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North Korea would have to employ the cargo ship container, or something similar, since they lack the actual technology to accurately fire a nuclear weapon, and won't have that capability for years and years. Just adding NK to the mix.
 

jEct2

Golden Member
Mar 1, 2005
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Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: jEct2
Originally posted by: So
BTW: interception can be done two ways.

1. Reagan system: Satellite in orbit. Blow it up on takeoff with a laser. Make launching a nuke at the US == a dirty bomb on the nation that launched it
2. Bush Jr. System: Launch a missile at the missile as ot comes in. Dirty bomb on us, no boom.

Advantages of Reagan system: Ideal method of operation, but we don't have NEARLY powerful enough lasers and it would require satellites w/ nuclear reactors on board.
Advantages of Bush system: Much more possible with current technology, no orbiting nuclear powerstations.

Blow it up on take-off? How the hell do we know when they shoot one?

Infared tracking satallites already provide early launch warnings.

Cool~ How do these work? Satellites have a watch system on suspectible launch pads or do they actually trail any kind of rocket in transit?
 

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
10,757
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Some of the upcoming US fighters have radar that can track incoming missiles, and then they can be intercepted.

One of the new radars in particular puts out enough energy that it can cook the missiles electronics and cause it to go off course.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
45,890
32,675
136
Originally posted by: jEct2
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: jEct2
Originally posted by: So
BTW: interception can be done two ways.

1. Reagan system: Satellite in orbit. Blow it up on takeoff with a laser. Make launching a nuke at the US == a dirty bomb on the nation that launched it
2. Bush Jr. System: Launch a missile at the missile as ot comes in. Dirty bomb on us, no boom.

Advantages of Reagan system: Ideal method of operation, but we don't have NEARLY powerful enough lasers and it would require satellites w/ nuclear reactors on board.
Advantages of Bush system: Much more possible with current technology, no orbiting nuclear powerstations.

Blow it up on take-off? How the hell do we know when they shoot one?

Infared tracking satallites already provide early launch warnings.

Cool~ How do these work? Satellites have a watch system on suspectible launch pads or do they actually trail any kind of rocket in transit?

gsaldivar posted a couple good links above