• MarxMadness@lemmygrad.ml
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    1 day ago

    A deterrent is a means of getting the other side not to nuke you in the first place. If an attack occurs, that means your deterrent has failed.

    A defense system is a means of intercepting nukes once the attack has started. I don’t think any country on the planet can do that reliably. And the reliability has to be extremely high to be worth anything at all, because even one nuke getting through can mean an entire metro area is leveled.

    • wreckminister@lemmygrad.ml
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      1 day ago

      That’s not how missile defense systems work. Missile deterrents are surface vehicles equipped with radar and their own missile systems. The radar detects, within its range, incoming missiles, drones, or jets and launches a missile to neutralize the target.

      India is currently using the Russian-made S-400 which has a range of ~450km.

      Edit: Sorry, I misread your comment because I’m quite sleepy. We’re talking about the same systems. Missile defense systems are also known as deterrents, as they deter incoming missiles from hitting their intended targets.