Why Pentagon's Costly Missile Defense System 'Will Never Be Able to Work'

© Flickr / The U.S. ArmyA ground-based missile interceptor is lowered into its missile silo
A ground-based missile interceptor is lowered into its missile silo - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The Pentagon's $40 billion missile defense system, designed to shield the US from incoming ballistic missiles attacks, could not be made workable, Theodore Postol, professor emeritus of Science, Technology and National Security at MIT told RT.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) and senior Chinese Communist Party official Liu Yunshan (R) wave during celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on October 12, 2015 - Sputnik International
What Could the US Do to Stop a North Korean ICBM Attack?
The system, which is a major component of Washington's national missile defense strategy, is formally known as the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD). It is supposed to intercept even nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles.

However, a report, released by the Government Accountability Office last week, showed that the technology at the heart of the GMD has limited capabilities. Postol is less optimistic. "I think basic physics would tell you that this system not only doesn't work, but it will never be able to work," he insisted.

"This has nothing to do with engineering technology, it has to do with the basic physics that the system tries to exploit in order to tell the difference between decoys and warheads. This is a fundamental problem with the system," he explained.

In addition, the United States "ruined" its relations with Russia while pouring billions of dollars into the GMD, Postol added.

"The mindless pursuit of the system has caused the break with Russia and has created high levels of tension when none of this should have happened," Postol noted. "This is an indication of a massive failure in US political leadership with regard to doing sound things for not only the defense of the US, but also for global stability."

By continuing the program, the US, according to the expert, also risks ruining relations with China.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала