Cruise missiles and modern war : strategic and technological implications / by David J. Nicholls.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Nichols, David J.

Contributor:

Air University (U.S.). Center for Strategy and Technology

Series:

Occasional paper (Air University (U.S.). Center for Strategy and Technology) ; no. 13.

Occasional paper ; no. 13

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cruise missiles.

Cruise missile defenses--United States.

Cruise missile defenses.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (42 pages)

Place of Publication:

Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. : Center for Strategy and Technology, Air War College, Air University, [1999]

Summary:

"This study examines how the proliferation of technologies has remedied the historical shortcomings of cruise missiles to produce a weapon that has significant military capabilities. The argument in this study is that cruise missiles are more cost-effective weapons than manned aircraft and ballistic missiles. It argues, furthermore, that the proliferation of cruise missile systems and technologies will transform cruise missiles into important and perhaps decisive weapons in the twenty-first century. The second theme of this study is that the United States must develop the ability to defend itself against a cruise missile attack. For a number of reasons, it is unlikely that U.S. defenses could entirely defeat such an attack in view of the difficulties of detecting and engaging a mass attack with cruise missiles that a determined enemy could use to overwhelm the defenses. Bearing in mind reasonable estimates of the numbers of cruise missiles that states could possess, this study concludes with the argument that the optimal strategy for an adversary against which the United States must defend itself is an attack against U.S. logistics and supply centers. This represents the nature of the asymmetric attacks that the United States will confront in the twenty-first century."--Page

Contents:

1. Introduction.

2. Improving cruise missile technologies.

3. Proliferation of cruise missiles.

4. Strategies for employing cruise missiles.

5. Defending against cruise missiles.

6. Conclusions.

Annex.

Notes.

Notes:

Title from title screen (viewed March 24, 2004).

Includes bibliographical references (pages 39-42).

Electronic reproduction. [Place of publication not identified] : HathiTrust Digital Library, 2011.

Other Format:

Nichols, David J. Cruise missiles and modern war

OCLC:

54801018

Access Restriction:

Use copy Restrictions unspecified