• Rapidcreek@lemmy.worldOP
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      9 months ago

      Isn’t Starlink stock.

      1.) Fractional Orbital Bombardment System

      2.) Orbital nuclear weapons delivery platform

      3.) New orbital ASAT capability

      Take your pick they all fit.

  • MegaUltraChicken@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    The number of times I’ve accidentally murdered my entire squad with an orbital strike in Helldivers tells me that would be a really bad idea.

  • Heresy_generator@kbin.social
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    9 months ago

    Okay, good. So just the GOP trying to drum up a super scary distraction from their opposition to doing anything about the border or supporting America’s allies. I’m sure this is just as scary as that ‘East Coast destroying nuclear torpedo’ of theirs.

    • mosiacmango@lemm.ee
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      9 months ago

      If anything this undercuts them opposing Ukraine aid. Russia is trying to escalate, so they clearly need to be shut down, and we conveniently have an Ally working to do that right now, an Ally that has a pending aid bill before that very chamber.

      • lemmefixdat4u@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        This might be the Republican plan. Russia breaking the “no nukes in space” rule, so now it’s okay to back Ukraine again. They don’t lose face, satisfy the large chunk of constituents that support what Ukraine is doing, and make their military donors happy.

        • mosiacmango@lemm.ee
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          9 months ago

          I think that’s way more 4d chess than they are actually capable of, but if votes shift i’ll definitely give it to your take.

  • ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Why does it matter if the nuclear weapon is in space or in some secret bunker (or on a plane or submarine, for that matter). It seems like one in space would be the easiest to monitor and intercept, if necessary, and also the least likely to kill anyone if it has a rapid unscheduled kaboom.

    I get why we don’t want anyone testing nukes in space but I don’t think anyone besides North Korea has tested an actual nuclear weapon since the 90’s.

    • Rapidcreek@lemmy.worldOP
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      9 months ago

      From a space delivery using a hyper sled you could be on target in 120 seconds. No time for any reaction.

      • ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        It’d be a big deal if they launched nuclear weapons from any platform. I’m not saying it’s a minor issue. I’m saying I don’t get why it’s more dangerous than other mutually assured destruction scenarios.

        • grabyourmotherskeys@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          Look at it this way. What’s a bigger deal? A fox in the henhouse or a fox on the other side of the pasture in the sights of your rifle?

          Hypothetically, a nuke platform in orbit could just lay waste to a massive amount of communication infrastructure. For Russia, operating in Europe, they can rely on encrypted radio comms from London to the Kremlin but the US is on the other side of the planet. US superiority is heavily reliant on things like satellite intelligence, remote guided ordinance, and a central command well back from the theatre of operations.

          It would give Russia’s outdated crap military a huge leg up and level the playing field somewhat.

          I’m not an expert so all that is just me freestyling but how does it sound? Does it sound like a threat to US military effectiveness in Europe?

          Russia still has to contend with European armies but they have nukes that they could use tactically in the region. If it’s your home turf, you’ll surrender before risking that.