In the Navy; you can spend a pretty dime; In the ...

[tw]

Originally posted by adamzion
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the main point- ... - is that a supersonic surface-to-surface or air-to-surface missile remains an all but impossible weapon against which to defend. And, against these types of weapon, the carriers remain rather vulnerable.

No only are sub-orbital supersonic missiles difficult (the recent attempts at theatre missile defense) but low level supersonic missiles also have obsoleted the last ditch defense weapon - the Phalax gun - a high fire rate, high density shell fired madly in the direction of the oncoming missile in hopes of hitting something. Supersonic missiles just come over the horizon too fast for that anti-aircraft type defense.