Israeli-U.S. Laser Downs Long-Range Missile in Test (http://news.myway.com/top/article/id/401978|top|05-07-2004::08:06|reuters.html)

Uncle Ronnie was so far ahead of his time.

Interesting that Israel is our partner in this. I could throw some theories out there as to why, but am more interested is the opinions of others who are greater experts on Israel than myself.

Interesting that Israel is our partner in this. I could throw some theories out there as to why, but am more interested is the opinions of others who are greater experts on Israel than myself. Ahm... because you funded the whole thing ? The Israelis ordered it, you funded it and now both of you bought it. The question is, do other companies in other countries develop similar systems or is that a very specific missile-concept that you want when your at war with your neighbour country and your own territories, that have tons of near-range rockets aimed at you.

What's the relation to SDI ?

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/reagan/sfeature/sdi.html

Plan to use high tech things like rail guns and lasers to knock down missiles. This pretty much fits the bill.

By the way nice insight! :rolleyes: Credible, backed by logic and factual input that is well documented. I definitely call it even and fair.

NOT!

By the way nice insight! Credible, backed by logic and factual input that is well documented. I definitely call it even and fair.

NOT! LOL.

Ahm, ok. Could you point out where I was factually wrong and were logic had deserted me more specifically ?

The missiles at the border and in the own territority ?
That this missile-defence thingy seems to adress a specific strategical problem and is aimed at intercepting specific missiles ?
That you have funded it ?

And the relation to SDI I still don't get, wasn't that aimed at intecepting intercontinental missiles ?

So I guess that all the rocket testing and design that we did before we went to the moon was a waste of time? If you can't build exactly what you want today, don't bother with research and development, making advances one step at time? Glad people with that mentality weren't in charge of the various space programs.

They shot a missile out of the sky with a laser. This logically will lead to smaller, faster, more powerful laser tech. This will lead to the ability to mount them on other platforms, such as ships. Further R&D will lead them to be fitted on aircraft, and eventually they will be able to make them powerful enough to set up ground based or satellite based systems that will be able to shoot down ICBM's.

As far as the vitriol in Ahm... because you funded the whole thing ? The Israelis ordered it, you funded it and now both of you bought it. You provide no backup to prove that statement as factual. We may have funded most of it, but the article clearly states that Israelis scientists were involved in the development, and it never states that they didn't provide any financing. I would also like to see what you base your belief that Israel ordered it. Does Israel now tell the US what we will do? Are we their subordinates? I get called to provide backup for practically every statement I make on these boards, but you seem to think that you can spew forth things like this without anyone questioning what you base your premises on? Or is this just your opinion?

I was looking for more of the analogies and comparisons with the M1A1 Abrams, or other jointly developed weapons systems. Something like someone's beliefs regarding the benefit it provides to Israel vs the cost it could have for them in increasing the tensions in the Middle East would have been good. Hell, I would have been a lot happier to discuss the chances that something like this could lead to more tensions than the weapons that it is designed to destroy have caused.

So I guess that all the rocket testing and design that we did before we went to the moon was a waste of time? If you can't build exactly what you want today, don't bother with research and development, making advances one step at time? Glad people with that mentality weren't in charge of the various space programs.
Well, the rocket research before the moon-flight hadn't to do anything with SDI or Ronald Reagan, if I am not mistaken.

They shot a missile out of the sky with a laser. This logically will lead to smaller, faster, more powerful laser tech. This will lead to the ability to mount them on other platforms, such as ships. Further R&D will lead them to be fitted on aircraft, and eventually they will be able to make them powerful enough to set up ground based or satellite based systems that will be able to shoot down ICBM's.
Ah, yes, and logically, someone will come up with something that prevents the missile from being shot down through a laser-tech based system. Or in other words, I don't think that anything that combines a laser, a missile and interception is SDI.

You provide no backup to prove that statement as factual. We may have funded most of it, but the article clearly states that Israelis scientists were involved in the development, and it never states that they didn't provide any financing. I would also like to see what you base your belief that Israel ordered it. Does Israel now tell the US what we will do? Are we their subordinates? I get called to provide backup for practically every statement I make on these boards, but you seem to think that you can spew forth things like this without anyone questioning what you base your premises on? Or is this just your opinion?
US concern Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) has announced that the US Armed Forces and the Israel Ministry of Defense have chosen its "Nautilus" missile interceptor system to counter the threat of short-range missiles and Katyusha rockets. Northrop Grumman overcame two other bids. Obviously, the Israelis and the US military ordered it.

Northrop Grumman said the US and Israeli defense authorities had chosen the mobile version of the system, called the Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL). The system was developed by Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), Rafael (Israel Armament Development Company), Tadiran Communications, and TRW, which was recently acquired by Northrop Grumman. The US and Israel financed the project. ANd the US and the Israelis funded it.

The system is capable of intercepting both the Katyushas in the hands of the Hizbullah in Lebanon and the Kassam missiles fired at Israel from Gaza, controlled by the Palestinian Authority. These missiles are also liable to be stationed in the West Bank, from where they could threaten Ben Gurion Airport.

And they have a specific situation and specific kinds of missiles to shoot down.
http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=718869&fid=1725

So, where please was I wrong ?

So this is the first successful SDI test? However I don't see how it's important that it was a US-Israel cojoint operation. Obviously both countries enjoy being protected from nuclear attacks. Israel and the US have been close for as long as anybody can remember. It might as well have been a France-Swiss project.