2006-11-13 00:08:44 · 15 answers · asked by pikeruss 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
no, and dont ask me that again
2006-11-13 00:11:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, not a laser, but the US has space based neutron bombs, which were part of the original SDI fielding. It is no secret that the US has these, they are just space based Minuteman missiles. These missiles would have no problem taking out the plants, but they would also cause extremely widespread environmental and radioactive damage, so they are used as a last resort.
The US also successfully tested MIRCL, which could probably be used against nuclear facilities, but it is so much easier and cheaper to just fly aircraft over nK to deploy munitions.
The US does have space based lasers, but they are used for intercepting missiles in space, not for destroying things on the ground (they shelved MIRCL and picked up THEL). The US abandoned the Star Wars space based lasers because they were too expensive and too easy to counter.
Check the link below for some of what you are talking about.
2006-11-13 09:09:36 · answer #2 · answered by Big Blair 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt it, for several reasons.
A laser works by line of sight - you have to be able to see the target to hit it. So a ground-based system wouldn't work unless you were on the ground within a few miles of the target. Otherwise the curvature of the earth puts it out of view.
A laser that powerful would require an enormous amount of energy. So an airborne system would be tough to deploy. Batteries are heavy, and so are generators. Putting them in space would be even harder.
A laser system that powerful would be expensive. Yeah, we've got the money to do it, but it's a whole lot cheaper and easier to employ other methods.
A spaceborne system would mean that the laser would be at the very least 100 miles from the target. More likely, it would be 200-300 miles, so that it's out of most of the atmosphere and not subject to drag. Otherwise the orbit would decay, and that very expensive laser would turn into a brief but pretty light show.
If it absolutely, positively has to be destroyed overnight, a couple of stealth bombers would do the job much easier and faster.
2006-11-13 08:18:30 · answer #3 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Does America have a top secert Hanger 51? With aliens and wierd stuff? maybe maybe not. Hence why it is called Top Secert we are not suppose to know. But, if you remember the "Star Wars" concept of the 80's and President Reagan then anything could be possible. But, who knows.
2006-11-13 08:18:18 · answer #4 · answered by devilduck74 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Military Thinktank..its a real field, a real group of people that already have gone over every conceivable left and right of all that.
So yes, back in the 80's, we had already developed contingencies for future options. Hence, the reason its all secret.
Beyond conventional warfare, yes we can employ extra's, not limited to ground based nuclear munitions, but stuff currently in orbit...the units are there and functionable.
2006-11-13 08:54:33 · answer #5 · answered by Diadem 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No they don't.
If they wanted to take out one they could use any old cruise missile or large conventional bomb, but it would be the most stupid way of dealing with the problem you could think of. The best you could hope for is highly radioactive material spread over a large area and no way to clean it up. The worst case scenario is for the bombs to not destroy the fuel rods but destroy the cooling system, then they'd melt and spray clouds of highly radio active steam into the air and you'd potentially contaminate millions of square miles.
2006-11-13 08:32:12 · answer #6 · answered by Bad bus driving wolf 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are talking about project PLUTO SECURITY , a top secret program using the XM33-B orbiting space laser. Details are classified. no seriously, for the reasons listed here it is totally impractical and not necessary.
2006-11-13 08:41:00 · answer #7 · answered by planksheer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm guessing that by definition a Top Secret weapon isn't going to be discussed on AYahoo.
2006-11-13 08:24:19 · answer #8 · answered by iraq51 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Not a laser but we do have Missiles in outer space that could simply be dropped on a dime.
2006-11-13 08:15:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry in a few months you will have your answer. The Democrat staffers w find it a moral imperative to let everyone know all of our secrets.
2006-11-13 08:49:15 · answer #10 · answered by roger k 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, I'm sure all the top secret government agency workers are just rushing here to give you the answer.
2006-11-13 08:10:16 · answer #11 · answered by shoby_shoby2003 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋