How Many Nuclear Missiles Can the United States Intercept?

Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) armed with nuclear warheads can be intercepted during the boost phase, midcourse phase and terminal phase. But the complexities around intercepting them, is #NotWhatYouThink #NWYT

00:00 Detecting ICBM
1:47 Boost Phase Intercept
6:06 Midcourse Phase Intercept
9:15 Decoys during Midcourse Phase
11:10 How Many ICBMs can be Realistically Intercepted
12:44 Terminal Phase
14:35 Intercepting Nukes with Nukes
15:09 Conclusion

Music:
Ghosting - Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen
Leaps - Jay Varton
Displaced - Robert Ruth
Tarantula - Hysics
Resurgence - Deskant
Breakneck Pace - Max Anson
Solve it - Max Anson
One Last Drama - Phillip Ayers
Thrill to Haunt - Max Anson
Command Pattern - Max Anson

Footage:
Ivan Stepanov
Videoblocks
Russian Ministry of Defense
Creative Commons
Nuclear War Simulator
US Department of Defense

Note: "The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement."

[RS-jpfq]

“The nuclear arms race is like two sworn enemies standing waist deep in gasoline, one with three matches, the other with five.”

― Carl Sagan

[SALEENSGTR]

The US and Russian radar and missile bases architecture look like things out of sci-fi movies. It's quite cool to see, but also incredibly scary at the same time.

[callumhall]

If one side has effective protection against a nuclear attack it can upset the balance of the mutually assured destruction doctrine. It sort of makes it safer that there is very little defence, or at least makes a strategic nuclear exchange less likely.

[mavfin]

The physics and speeds involved make the actual engagement window very small, as well as making it very hard to hit, again, because of the speeds involved. It's not an easy thing at all. The problem with ship-based interception is where the ship is relative to the target path. Ground-based can usually be assumed to be somewhere on or near the inbound missile path, so you don't have to worry about cross-range issues. (i.e. crossing targets are almost impossible...)

[TR-zxlc]

It's amazing to think that if only one GBI ever stops a single nuclear strike, it will have more than paid for its entire development and operation.

[dannjrad]

If I remember correctly, the U.S is currently pursuing around three hypersonic weapons programs and one of those programs is specifically catered to ICBM interception and homeland air defense.

[dougdouglas]

Good stuff, as always. Liked and subscribed.

[toveychurchill]

"never-fail weapon system"
sometimes the optimism of the American government could put a smile on one's face

[Blaine]

All anti-ballistic missiles used to carry nuclear warheads. Setting off a small nuclear explosion near incoming warheads can cause spontaneously fission. This causes the warheads to "fizzle".

[Qossuth]

It would have been worth pointing out that the difficulty with mid-course interception is because in the vacuum of space it is very hard to discriminate between a lightweight decoy and a heavier warhead as they follow the same trajectories. You can even put warheads inside of decoy balloons so they look the same as the actual decoys.

[arnavnair]

Tbh i agree with the last part. I don't think NK's nuclear missiles are advanced enough as compared to China or Russia so the defense system would have a higher chance of working on Nk's missiles

[fenseti]

I'm editing this so no one will know why it get many likes

[sisyphusofephyra]

That interceptor test done inside the cage has to be the angriest machine ever caught on video

[blueeyecinema]

Great educational video on nuclear weapons which provides a more in depth understanding of what to expect in the event of a nuclear attack 😢😢😢

[puckerbutton]

pretty scary to have a weapon that you will either never use
or use them all at once

[apocsoviet]

I think it's more than ok if you start using "it's exactly what you think" more often.

[acaludi]

Intelligent video, rare thing nowadays.

[brianmi]

I spent 5 years having ICBMs fired at my location when I worked at Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Test Site in the Marshall Islands (Kwajalein Missile Range back then). We used to stand on the beach and watch them appear over the ocean at the horizon in the east as the test firings were launched from Vandenberg AFB. These were the quarterly tests of actual missiles pulled randomly, warhead removed, and fired both to show the Soviet Union they still worked, but also to test myriad Star Wars era programs to shoot down ICBMs. The largest number of MIRVs I witnessed was 5 as these were dispersed as the ICBM was getting close to Kwajalein, so you could easily see the launch of each MIRV and its new trajectory towards its target.

Kwajalein is shown at 6:53, all the way over to the left. At 7:00 it displays an intercept launched from Kwajalein on a test flight from Vandenberg, however, when I was there, the intercepts were closer to Kwajalein at point of impact as we had a number of large cameras that would take photos at the moment of impact.

I would imagine the LRDR shown being built is constructed similarly to the radar on Kwajalein that is designed in an attempt to survive a relatively close nuclear blast (obviously not a direct hit). The inside is filled with steel cross beams so much that you can hardly walk without having to constantly duck your head. It has a huge blast door that covers the radar, where the intent would be to re-open after an attack and be able to "see" other launches.

Lots of memories and fascinating stories from my time there!

[peemic]

Your videos are great. Wonderful explanation with excellent footage/pictures/diagrams. Keep up the great work!

[dougdouglas]

...and then there are the nuclear tipped cruise missiles coming in from ships and submarines going mach 2.5 and flying 50' off the ground

Good stuff, good video like always 👍👍