Missile Defense Test Intercepts ICBM Target, Says Pentagon (cnbc.com)

schwit1 quotes CNBC: In the first test of its kind, the Pentagon on Monday carried out a "salvo" intercept of an unarmed missile soaring over the Pacific, using two interceptor missiles launched from underground silos in southern California.

Both interceptors zeroed in on the target -- a re-entry vehicle that had been launched 4,000 miles away atop an intercontinental-range missile, the Pentagon said. The first interceptor hit and destroyed the re-entry vehicle, which in an actual attack would contain a warhead. The second interceptor hit a secondary object, as expected, according to a statement by the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency.

Comments

Re:Arms race

[HornWumpus]

Nobody can afford to build enough to stop a massive attack.

This technology is more usefully thought of in the realm of games theory. It introduces uncertainty that completely changes the game.

As to the arms race? It's already on with China, Russia is still basically broke. They're not going to spend their vodka money on weapons.

Why not cool down

[SuperKendall]

Won't this have the effect of restarting the arms race as each power attempts to ensure they have enough ordnance to overwhelm the anti-missile capabilities

If a country like North Korea cannot possibly build enough missiles to overwhelm anti-missile capabilities of America or any NATO country, then why would they waste money on building a lot of missiles to begin with?

Over all the effect is less missiles, not more, when really good defenses exist.