• scoobford@lemmy.zip
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    9
    ·
    17 days ago

    Yes, antimissile systems will shoot down most of your missile volley, so you need to launch enough that they become overwhelmed and the few that make it through accomplish your goal.

    We don’t know exactly how much “most” is, but its enough that the powers that be consider our current level of armament to be necessary.

    • Chaos@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      8
      ·
      17 days ago

      This is where I think there is a misunderstanding. You don’t just fire only nukes at a country. You fire a multi pronged attack with regular bombardment aswell.

      • Madison@feddit.org
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        edit-2
        17 days ago

        Yes, but to a way lesser degree.

        The bombs become really nasty by creating a big chain reaction (boom) and then radiating the dust the explosion creates (aftermath) which then spreads everywhere.

        Without a controlled explosion there will be significantly less radiating reactions and radioactive dust.

        It’s like deep inhaling the smoke of a package of burning fire starters VS throwing said burning fire starter into a warehouse full of fireworks (and for the sake of this argument you cant leave the warehouse and have no equipment whatsoever)

        Both will probably fuck you up a bit if you’re to close, but one is comparably insignificant.

    • Lumisal@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      17 days ago

      Shooting down a nuclear icbm doesn’t really help as much as you think, if it catches it.

      Not to mention the atmosphere lighting up wouldn’t be much better

        • Lumisal@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          17 days ago

          Doesn’t that depend on how they’re set up? I’d imagine in the 50+ years since they’ve been invented they would have designed it so it could, specifically because modern anti missile defenses exist.

          I mean, I know world governments can be dumb, but I would imagine they’re not that dumb as to bother maintaining a key super weapon just to not upgrade it / design it so that it won’t work if used.

          • Madison420@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            17 days ago

            Maybe but no not really the triggering process is extremely fast but kinda fragile because everything needs to be compressed just so.

            They upgrade them, it’s public knowledge for the budget. Usually it’s faster smaller or different form factor plus renewal programs.

            • Lumisal@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              17 days ago

              But any knowledge on how modern triggering works on them I’d imagine would be kept a state secret wouldn’t it? I don’t think it’s something you’d want others to know.

              • Richard@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                ·
                17 days ago

                Someone has to know because scientists and engineers are educated in universities and not in military boot camps. Universities are the origin of all scientific expertise in a nation, including the nation’s military.

                • Lumisal@lemmy.world
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  17 days ago

                  They hid the Manhattan project really really well, if you’ve ever looked into the history.