Sixty years ago the first surface-to-air-missile system was developed by US Army. Nike Ajax was designed to attack conventional bomber aircraft flying at high subsonic speeds and altitudes above 50,000 feet (15 km). It could quite reliably knock down aircraft, from 8 ft target drones to B-17s. What happened to the sites in and around Chicago that during the Cold War? Is SAM technology actually useful anymore?
Nike Ajax: How the first surface-to-air missile changed warfare forever
- Thread starter emilymainzer
- Start date
SinoSoldier
Colonel
The surface to air missile will remain in service as long as aircraft exist, especially with upgraded radars, dual-pulse rocket motors, and lack of sufficient airborne countermeasures.
What happened was the Cold War ended and America stopped being afraid of Soviet bombers dropping nukes on every major American city.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
Actually the latter part was due to the advent of the ICBM rather than the end of the Cold War.
Oops. You're right, totally forgot about that. In that case, it was a move of acknowledged futility in the face even greater TERROR, and not of triumph and relief
. Anyways, in that case what I should have said was that SAMs became ineffective against one particular threat, but that by no means mitigates their tactical and strategic usefulness and importance against other kinds of threats.
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SinoSoldier
Colonel
Oops. You're right, totally forgot about that. In that case, it was a move of acknowledged futility in the face even greater TERROR, and not of triumph and relief
That's true. SAMs may no longer be the primary guardian against nuclear strikes but they are still vital in light of other military threats such as low flying cruise missiles, helicopters, jets, drones, and in situations where the enemy cannot use saturation tactics (Israel & Syria are good examples).
I used to work near an old Nike missile facility in Brea, California. At one time there were 16 such sites around Los Angeles. Not much remains today since the missiles were removed in the 1960s-1970s. My older coworkers back then used to comment about taking their GF's "up there" when they were in high school.