US Missile Interceptor test? Something Doesn't add up here

[Safriz]

 

[Safriz]

https://www.facebook.com/

 

[jhungary]

Missile defence was armed with proximity fuze, the missile will release a strip of metal when it was near its target. That will cut off the warhead and the propulsion. The interceptor do not hit the target physically.

That is the reason why the target exploded before the interceptor hit it, because it never do.

 

[LeGenD]

Sir,

Koi video post karne say phele technicalities samajj lia karien.

Check these (still) images:

The interceptor missile (right) closes-in and releases the EKV and the EKV kills the target (left) in turn.

The interceptor missile itself does not hits the target because its kinetic force may not be sufficient to kill the target. EKV kills the target.

The process of intercept

When the Ground-based Midcourse Defense System tracks a threat with its land, sea or space sensors, it launches a Ground-Based Interceptor, which uses its three-stage solid rocket booster to fly out of the Earth's atmosphere at near-hypersonic speeds. Once it has exited the atmosphere, the kill vehicle's job begins.

The EKV seeks out its target using multi-color sensors, a cutting-edge onboard computer and a rocket motor that helps it steer in space. It hones in on the target and, with pinpoint precision, destroys it using nothing more than the force of a massive collision. No traditional warhead is necessary.

Learn more about EKV from here: http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/ekv/

All of this happens so fast that thermal imaging cameras are not able to catch every development. However, ANGLE 2 captures the intercept process in a better manner.

 

[Safriz]

I doubt that.
The target missile is a Hira PLV which is a bolted together remains of decommissioned Minuteman. Stage two and three of minuteman are used and then a target vehicle mounted on top.
It sheds first and second stages within minutes of launch and enters ballistic trajectory, hence appearing so small.
The big missile is the interceptor which doesn't jettison any stages and hence the large size.

 

[jhungary]

I doubt that.
The target missile is a Hira PLV which is a bolted together remains of decommissioned Minuteman. Stage two and three of minuteman are used and then a target vehicle mounted on top.
It sheds first and second stages within minutes of launch and enters ballistic trajectory, hence appearing so small.
The big missile is the interceptor which doesn't jettison any stages and hence the large size.

It's not the missile that's jettison, it's the warhead........The warhead is armed with a proximity fuze and when the warhead of the interceptor near the target, the proximity fuze release the EKV, which was stored inside the warhead, and the EKZ propelled out of the warhead of the interceptor and destroy the Target

It's how missile kills missile, you don't use the whole interceptor and ram it on the target.

 

[Thorough Pro]

but shouldn't the proximity fuse detonate the intercepting missile first to release the metallic rods /pallets/shrapnel to hit the missile? here it looks like the proximity fuse is in the target missile and it explodes itself when senses interceptor approaching it.

Missile defence was armed with proximity fuze, the missile will release a strip of metal when it was near its target. That will cut off the warhead and the propulsion. The interceptor do not hit the target physically.

That is the reason why the target exploded before the interceptor hit it, because it never do.

 

[jhungary]

but shouldn't the proximity fuse detonate the intercepting missile first to release the metallic rods /pallets/shrapnel to hit the missile? here it looks like the proximity fuse is in the target missile and it explodes itself when senses interceptor approaching it.

If the warhead detonated first, then the Metal Rods will basically flies everywhere from the resulting explosion. You don't detonate the warhead just to propel the kill vehicle inside.

The mechanism is more like how APFSDF round leave a tank cannon. The explosion propel the round out of the chamber, but the metal rod (or the penetrator) was separated mid flight. There are no internal explosion involved in a APFSDF warhead, the shell simply separate from the penetrator and the penetrator will be using the kinetic energy stored when fire to continue on to the target

 

[LeGenD]

I doubt that.
The target missile is a Hira PLV which is a bolted together remains of decommissioned Minuteman. Stage two and three of minuteman are used and then a target vehicle mounted on top.

Hira PLV? Never heard of it.

Photo of the missile used to simulate an ICBM-class target during this test:

It sheds first and second stages within minutes of launch and enters ballistic trajectory, hence appearing so small.
The big missile is the interceptor which doesn't jettison any stages and hence the large size.

Bro,

It is all murky in the space.

We cannot rely upon this footage to identify objects in exo-atmospheric conditions. It doesn't tells which object is the warhead and which object is the EKV. Thermal imaging is good for confirming HIT - TO - KILL occurrence in exo-atmospheric conditions by capturing the resultant explosion but we need a higher quality footage with expert input to understand the whole picture.

Look at this example:

Can you spot the warhead and EKV in this (still) image?

Trust me! Both of them are there but not glowing. You can notice one of the objects moving in the video but you cannot identify what it is.

Therefore, not wise to base your skepticism on what you see in a thermal imaging footage like this one.

Relevant authorities can show you much better evidence of the test (and interception) because they monitor such activities in real-time with different tracking devices but I doubt they will disclose so much information due to it being largely classified. If you want to approach someone then relevant contact information is here: http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2017-05...Successfully-Intercept-Missile-Defense-Target

EDIT: I have found a higher quality footage of the test and you can notice a dark object ramming into the target in it. See below.

but shouldn't the proximity fuse detonate the intercepting missile first to release the metallic rods /pallets/shrapnel to hit the missile? here it looks like the proximity fuse is in the target missile and it explodes itself when senses interceptor approaching it.

Actually the footage circulating around is poor quality/dark.

I have found a video (better lit than others) in which you can notice a dark object ramming into the target: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/528615/ftg-15-flight-test-video

I have captured some still images and circled this dark object:

Now, of-course, it is impossible to tell which one is the warhead and which one is the EKV.

Thermal imaging is not good for identification of objects in motion in exo-atmospheric conditions, it seems.

@jhungary
@gambit

 

[Thorough Pro]

Learned a new thing today, I always thought the warhead of the interceptor missile explodes shooting metallic rods and shrapnel in every direction to kill anything in close range.

If the warhead detonated first, then the Metal Rods will basically flies everywhere from the resulting explosion. You don't detonate the warhead just to propel the kill vehicle inside.

The mechanism is more like how APFSDF round leave a tank cannon. The explosion propel the round out of the chamber, but the metal rod (or the penetrator) was separated mid flight. There are no internal explosion involved in a APFSDF warhead, the shell simply separate from the penetrator and the penetrator will be using the kinetic energy stored when fire to continue on to the target

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