the Daily Whale - 24 May 2025

Smart: Boost phase interception?
Weird: Why, yes. I can build you a system that detects threatening launches and defeats them within a few minutes, and it will never shoot down a test launch over enemy territory and start the war it is meant to protect from. And I'll do it for minimum wage if you pay me enough.
Smart: Impressive. What about FOBS?
Weird: Pshaw, a fraction of the bombardment problem.

clue:

When a ballistic missile is still accelerating, any prediction of where it will land is rough at best. For example, a provocative test launch from China across the Pacific to land in the Atlantic might be impossible to distinguish from an attack. So Golden Dome shoots down the boosting missile while it is still over China. Who is more provocative?

Fractional Orbital Bombardment System means you orbit your nuclear weapon, maybe in advance, then drop it to earth when you decide to. Re-entry happens at hypersonic speeds, and the weapon may maneuver when it hits atmosphere--and the orbit is low to start with. So there's little warning and behavior is unpredictable.

24 May 2025 - Golden Dome 2

clue: