Great Mateo
15-05-2004, 23:12
GMAP - 15 May
The Great Matean government has recently announced its intent to more than triple its anti-missile capabilities over the next three years, in order to better protect itself as well as to begin providing umbrella coverage for the entire Unified Kelanthian League.
GM has already launched a total of 12 satellites over the last 3 years. Recent testing has showed this network to be capable of downing approximately 144 missiles or warheads per minute, many Great Matean military officials have recently expressed concern that this is not enough. "Today's world is a dangerous one," says General Ian Townsend, Commander-In-Chief of the Great Matean Air Force. "Nations go to war at the drop of a hat, and do not hesitate to use what should be weapons of last resort immediately upon entering a conflict. The nuclear arsenals of many nations is measured in tens of thousands of missiles and hundreds of thousands of warheads; 140 threats eliminated per minute is simply not enough. We must improve our defenses in order to sufficiently protect ourselves. We must also be able to protect our regional allies; a large scale attack on any of them would have dramatic effects on the remaining nations in the region."
Information released by the GM government states that the plan for expansion includes launching as many as 30 more laser based satellites similar to the ones already in orbit, as well as a new project codenamed Arctic Sun. This centerpoint of this program will be the launch of 15 satellites of new design. These satellites shall be placed in the Arctic circle area in order to attack missiles taking Great Circle routes. Each satellite will be equipped with as many as 5 smaller satellites containing a light nuclear payload; when a missile is detected, a smaller satellite will be launched toward it. Once the mother satellite has detected that the smaller weapon is in range, it will send a signal causing the smaller satellite to detonate. The resulting low yield nuclear explosion will destroy or cripple any warhead or satellite within a 100 mile radius.
The decision by GM leadership to place nuclear weapons, despite the fact they are defensive ones, in space has caused quite a controversy. "This is just asking for a political and possibly environmental disaster," says Meghan Ironwood, spokesperson for the GM based Civilian Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament. "What if another nation decides those satellites are a threat to their nation? Or possibly even worse, what if one of its 'neutralizing' satellites detonated at lower than expected altitudes? You'd be looking at catastrophic effects all over whatever unfortunate region or nation happened to be below. There's also a huge risk in launching these satellites. What happens if the rocket or shuttle carrying them is sabotaged, or has an error during its boost stage? You've just razed our own nation in an effort to protect it."
The GM government plans to proceed despite the controversy and enormous risks involved with this program. The first launch is tentatively scheduled for early next year.
The Great Matean government has recently announced its intent to more than triple its anti-missile capabilities over the next three years, in order to better protect itself as well as to begin providing umbrella coverage for the entire Unified Kelanthian League.
GM has already launched a total of 12 satellites over the last 3 years. Recent testing has showed this network to be capable of downing approximately 144 missiles or warheads per minute, many Great Matean military officials have recently expressed concern that this is not enough. "Today's world is a dangerous one," says General Ian Townsend, Commander-In-Chief of the Great Matean Air Force. "Nations go to war at the drop of a hat, and do not hesitate to use what should be weapons of last resort immediately upon entering a conflict. The nuclear arsenals of many nations is measured in tens of thousands of missiles and hundreds of thousands of warheads; 140 threats eliminated per minute is simply not enough. We must improve our defenses in order to sufficiently protect ourselves. We must also be able to protect our regional allies; a large scale attack on any of them would have dramatic effects on the remaining nations in the region."
Information released by the GM government states that the plan for expansion includes launching as many as 30 more laser based satellites similar to the ones already in orbit, as well as a new project codenamed Arctic Sun. This centerpoint of this program will be the launch of 15 satellites of new design. These satellites shall be placed in the Arctic circle area in order to attack missiles taking Great Circle routes. Each satellite will be equipped with as many as 5 smaller satellites containing a light nuclear payload; when a missile is detected, a smaller satellite will be launched toward it. Once the mother satellite has detected that the smaller weapon is in range, it will send a signal causing the smaller satellite to detonate. The resulting low yield nuclear explosion will destroy or cripple any warhead or satellite within a 100 mile radius.
The decision by GM leadership to place nuclear weapons, despite the fact they are defensive ones, in space has caused quite a controversy. "This is just asking for a political and possibly environmental disaster," says Meghan Ironwood, spokesperson for the GM based Civilian Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament. "What if another nation decides those satellites are a threat to their nation? Or possibly even worse, what if one of its 'neutralizing' satellites detonated at lower than expected altitudes? You'd be looking at catastrophic effects all over whatever unfortunate region or nation happened to be below. There's also a huge risk in launching these satellites. What happens if the rocket or shuttle carrying them is sabotaged, or has an error during its boost stage? You've just razed our own nation in an effort to protect it."
The GM government plans to proceed despite the controversy and enormous risks involved with this program. The first launch is tentatively scheduled for early next year.