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RJ & AS DeLotto's avatar

Ummm... Ferg? I am NOT an expert (Just a babyboomer with a good memory) but MIRVed missiles were invented in 1968 and deployed on US Minuteman 3 ICBMs in 1970. Nothing new here, except a rather blunt reminder that Vlad the Invader has them mounted on IRBMs. Odd that the strike pattern was so tight-- ALL ballistic warheads are "hypersonic", but IIRC, the US ones could strike many miles part. Looks like the Russian ones are not that maneuverable.

Real question-- do the real warheads still work? Were they stolen or sold? No clue.

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Ferg's avatar

I'm certainly not a expert either just found it all interesting. "All ballistic warheads are hypersonic" agreed but they only get classed as hyper sonic north of mach 5 which below article outlines US has yet to field and more importantly isn't able to intercept. https://news.usni.org/2024/06/25/report-to-congress-on-hypersonic-missile-defense-4

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RJ & AS DeLotto's avatar

'Hypersonic" is a marketing term... MIRVs and other ballistic warheads re-enter at Mach 25. Nobody in the West really invested in ABM for a long time after the 1972 treaty. The US SEEMS to have gone more towards stealthy cruise missile technology, and shops like Anduril are driving-down the cost.

(I wasted a LOT of research time when the big defense contractors started using the term... STILL not really investable, but... blinky lights, big booms, BIGGER cashflow. <sigh>)

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Johannes Falkenburg's avatar

Hi Ferg,

I just learned this about Iran Oil transporting VLCCs getting trashed in foresight of Trump: https://splash247.com/shadow-vlccs-lined-up-for-demolition/

How about an update article on your tanker idea? Maybe a good time to update positions?

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Tom's avatar

Hey Ferg - there is a scammer pretending to be you on Substack; @traderferg1. Keeps messaging me, FYI!

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Miguel Esteves's avatar

The comment below is right.

Just fill in the ICBM warheads with concrete or tungsten and voilà, a kinetic energy hypersonic ballistic missile.

Russia violated the agreement and produced mid-range missiles, the same as ICBMs but with one less propulsion stage, called IRBMs, that's what was used.

Nothing too innovative.

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