The Russian president Putin is mad about his American colleague Bush for trying to build a missile shield in Poland and Czech, two former allies of Moscow. “All we want to do is protect Europe from Iranian missiles”, says general Henry Obering, lead minister of the "Missile Defense Agency”. Putin doesn't believe that since “Tehran does not have any long-range missiles”.
The radar station is supposed to be in Czech, the counter missiles in Poland. Those missiles are equipped with an "EKV" or "Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle”. It"s a target-seeking bullet that smashes into an oncoming (nuclear) warhead, destroying it.
The price for one EKV: 30 million dollars. How does that spacekiller work? Has it ever been tested? And how dangerous exactly is Iran?
Iranian Threat
Iran, that claims itself as regional power, is quickly developing its own missiles, improved versions of the North-Korean ones. Experts say the improved Shahab-3 missile has a reach of 2,000 kilometers, being able to hit Israel and the American bases in the Middle-East. But it's also working on a missile capable of bringing their satellites into orbit and a intercontinental missile capable of hitting Europe. That way, Tehran would be able to drop a nuclear or chemical bomb on Europe.
How the EKV Works
Alarm
A spy satellite, 36,000 kilometers above the earth, uses his powerful infrared detectors to spot the hot flame exhaust of a intercontinental missile taking off.
Radar Detection
The alarm signal from the satellite alerts the "Cheyenne Mountain Command Centre" in the USA. The radar near Prague picks up the oncoming warhead (nuclear or chemical) and keeps tracking it and the fake warheads.
Counter Missile Launch
Fifteen minutes later, the American command decides to launch one or more counter missiles from their base in Poland to neutralize the oncoming threat. Each missile is equipped with an EKV.
EKV Deployment
De American missile launches the EKV into space. Once there, it uses the stars to BEPAAL its position and then heads for the warhead.
Fake Warhead Detection
About 100 seconds before smashing into the warhead, the EKV uses its infrared sensors to distinguish the real warhead from the fake ones.
Warhead Destruction
At a combined speed of 24,000 kmph, the EKV blasts into the warhead at around 193 kilometers high, destroying the nuclear load of the warhead, neutralizing all danger.
Never Tested Before
The United States already have a rudimentary missile shield, aimed for North-Korean (and Chinese?) missiles: a radar in Shemya (Alaska) and two missile bases, in Fort Greely (Alaska) and Vandenberg (California).
The American Senate is posing questions about this missile shield, especially because there have never been realistic tests. And, only six of eleven were a success.
Missile Shield Needed
The American military still has the "Star Wars" visions president Reagan was having. What they want is a space shield, equipped with killer-satellites that can quickly destroy nuclear missiles. Or airplanes equipped with lasers, which are currently being tested. Or "brilliant pebbles", small space crafts waiting in space to crash into enemy warheads…
