From what I've seen about the hypersonic missile strike, nuclear weapons will be a thing of the past. A payload of rocks, breaking apart a few thousand feet above the ground, at multiple times the speed of sound, would destroy huge sections of a city. There would be no radioactive after effects, and the destruction horrific. With the added fact missiles of this type are too fast for protective measures, those that have them can call the shots.
LawnDarts!!
ReplyDelete..on steroids.
DeleteRead "The moon is a harsh mistress" Robert Heiland
ReplyDeleteI've never read the book, but will put it on my list after reading reviews.
DeleteDo. It's a Heinlein classic. Starship Troopers is my favorite, but this is up there.
DeleteBeen done, see MLRS concrete training rounds.
ReplyDeleteI watched a video of a MLRS battery. It makes WW2 rocket attacks look like three kids with bottle rockets.
DeleteRocks are heavy. Requires a LOT of fuel to get into the air. Even more to get them to hypersonic speeds. The payoff in terms of damage would be small compared to the energy costs to deliver. Sending rocks down from orbit would be a feasible weapon. Launching them from Earth is not. Physics is a coldhearted bitch and won't be denied.
ReplyDeleteThat's true. In my view, the cost for the hypersonic missiles is prohibitive for a large arsenal. Peaceful coexistence is a much better option, and with a healthy world economy, peace is sought.
DeleteLOL. Humans are a predatory species. Long term peaceful coexistence beyond small intimate groups is generally not something we are wired for. It happens occasionally for periods of time but eventually humans nature, which is violent, surfaces.
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