Awblain said:
If you're able to hit a satellite or a regular ballistic missile, then you should be able to hit that.
At such speeds turning isn't easy, and drag is a big issue.
True, satellites tend to travel at or around 17000mph (depending on orbit) which is a considerably faster than the M10 posited for a hypersonic glide vehicle like this. However, this weapon will be doing those speeds
much closer in and will therefore, have a much higher crossing rate, which is a bitch for targeting. Also, you don't know (with sufficient confidence) where it's going to come from, which also makes things tricky.
I think this is a real threat. I also think the only way to defeat it is at range, i.e. in country and that means SF, cyber, or (god forbid) conventional forces. Currently, with the possible exception of US SF, (which would be a one-shot deal in this instance) the west doesn't have the capability for the other two options, not against China, not without significant losses.
Brings the issues raised in this
thread into stark relief.
Sun.