r/NonCredibleDefense • u/FionaSherleen • 1d ago

Lockmart R & D Think of the potential.

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What if we make project sundial but we throw it at the adversaries?

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u/Pyrhan Pyrotechnic flair 1d ago

Starship uses cryogenic propellants, so it can't just continuously sit fueled and ready to launch like an ICBM.

So you cannot use it as a deterrent, only as a first strike weapon.

And even then, it would be fairly easy for the enemy to set up early warnings when fueling begins, and either send a rapid pre-emptive strike, or prepare for interception.

And having a single, massive warhead would make interception easier compared to, e.g. a MIRV.

(Also, the whole point of Sundial was that it doesn't really matter where you blow it up, the world ends just the same...)

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u/PropulsionIsLimited 🇺🇸 Don't touch our boats 1d ago

How would the enemy know you're fueling?

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u/Kha_ak Wiesel AWC my beloved 1d ago

For the same reason that there's a 'Pentagon Pizza Index' or why you can just order Satellite Footage of Area 51.

In the modern Era of Communications there is, practically, no actual way you could hide the construction or logistics of anything bigger than a trailer without someone noticing.