In article ,
(rottenberg) wrote:

(SKSvilich) wrote in message
...
Group...
While stuck in traffic, bad traffic, I began wondering: how difficult would
it
be to intercept an ICBM lifting off out of somewhere like North Korea?
Seems
like it would be an 'easy' target: slow, going up, not evading. Or, would
it
be more effective to have a cruiser wait off shore to intercept with
surface to
air?
Thx,
Sks
Humble Cessna Driver

Off the shore of the target or the launch site? My guess is that it
would be easier to hit a missile on its way up, as long as you knew
when and where it was launching from.



The problem is getting close enough to the missile to be able to hit it
effectively. Remember, an ICBM-class missile boost phase is only about
three minutes from liftoff to final separation, so any counter-boost
measures have to be able to detect, identify, aim, shoot and intercept
within that timeframe. Since most launch sites are located well inland,
only speed-of-light means have any real chance of success.