Multiple Kill Vehicle

[Cron]

I, for one, welcome our new hovering overlords. It's apparently meant for missile defense, but imagine a few of these bad boys floating down the streets of Baghdad...I'd shit my pants.

 

[C420sailor]

Looks like bullshit to me.

Edit: Wow, it actually isn't bullshit. That's cool.

 

[phrogpilot73]

It seems to me that even though it's designed for space, it potentially could be incredibly effective in a convential battle - with the intent of supression of a threat...

 

[eddie]

So it hovers around in the upper atmosphere like that or something? I don't get it.

 

[phrogpilot73]

http://www.mda.mil/mdaLink/html/asptmkv.html

Looks like it would be kind of like the MIRV's on ballistic missiles. Launch a big missile into space, eject these booster powered MKV's and lay waste to the missile that's inbound.

 

[Flash]

So it hovers around in the upper atmosphere like that or something? I don't get it.

The little rockets/thrusters stabilize it in the vacuum of space as it targets an RV, that is why you see so many of them going off in such a rapid succession. And it doesn't exactly stand still, it is basically in orbit at this point going about 17,000 mph.

As for use on the ground, not too practical unfortunately. The expense is enormous too.

 

[Cron]

As for use on the ground, not too practical unfortunately. The expense is enormous too.

I'm sure fuel consumption alone wouldn't make it very viable...but just imagine it with a machine gun on board.

 

[MIDNJAC]

For a lot less money, a mini UAV helo would accomplish a similar goal in a conventional and/or urban environment.

 

[usmarinemike]

We need to figure out how to effectively counter a guy burying a mortar round under some trash on the side of the road and setting it off with his portable phone before we start talking about unmanned rocket powered machine gun pods.

 

[Banjo33]

Somebody's got a kick ass job!

 

[scoolbubba]

don't these weapons designers watch movies? this thing is all fine and awesome until it becomes self aware and kills everyone and everything. Way to design a terminator, guys. nice worst.

 

[MIDNJAC]

I want to see the lab where they test this stuff. Seems right out of a movie to me

 

[Lawman]

We need to figure out how to effectively counter a guy burying a mortar round under some trash on the side of the road and setting it off with his portable phone before we start talking about unmanned rocket powered machine gun pods.

We've got one... we just need more money to buy more of them.

 

[Flash]

We've got one... we just need more money to buy more of them.

We are:

 

[HeyJoe]

Ward Carroll on Fox in re the Multiple Kill Vehicle