Yet another war, this time with Iran

[bilby]

I don't think we will have a missile of range greater than Agni VI.

I bet you will, given that the mark V was already capable of hitting all the plausible targets.

Military men don't like the idea that they can't hit (say) New Zealand, even if there is zero reason why they would ever want or need to.

ICBM makers will keep "improving" their designs until they can hit every point on the planet. And then they will still "improve" their designs to carry bigger payloads (just in case the Chinese build a roof over Beijing that is proof against a "mere" 10MT of MIRV'ed warheads).

 

[Patooka]

Military men don't like the idea that they can't hit (say) New Zealand, even if there is zero reason why they would ever want or need to.

I would also add defense contractors don't like it when they don't have projects, even if the premise is utterly redundant.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Don't be so willing to trust what Iran says.

Nothing Iran says can be trusted.
Nothing the Trump administration says can be trusted

It's a shitty situation. Only a free press can tell us what's likely true.

But Trump says that the free press is the enemy of the people. I say that Trump is the enemy of the people.

You're missing part of it.

Even when the reporting is bad you can very often figure out which version is closer to reality.

Do I believe The Felon? Not one iota.

But "multiple strikes" and the damage is limited to a swimming pool's worth of water? No, that does not add up. Something else was hit that Iran doesn't want to admit--therefore whatever was hit was of a military nature.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

I want to see the US adopt this policy. Russia threatens to nuke countries almost every single day.

Which means US has not agreed to NFU and has kept its options open. Has Russia nuked any country?

Look at the missiles.

US: solid fueled.

Russia: mostly liquid fueled.

Liquid fueled missiles are not second strike capable, the weapons say doctrine is first use.

That assumes competence not in evidence.

Liquid fuel just says the designers copied the German A4.

The A4 was ethanol/LOX. The Russian missiles use stuff along the lines of hydrazine/nitrogen tetroxide. Hypergolic nightmare stuff, but it's storable without refrigeration.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/...e_code=1.plA.3OME.o9-xSjCM1BH_&smid=url-share

The New York Times doesn't make a claim without verifying the evidence, so all things considered, including the fact that my favorite source of news has won more Pulitzer Prizes for accurate reporting, I think there was enough evidence that this water supply in this small Iranian city is true. The Times didn't make the claim that it was targeted on purpose, but if it was, it wound't surprise me. It if wasn't done on purpose, it was careless to hit a civilian source of water. The article is one I'm sharing so you can read the rest if interested.

The New York Times suffers the same problem that plagues basically all reporting on such things: having stuff to publish is more important than having accurate stuff. Be very cautious about trusting any news organization reporting from an area that censors the news. (And, unfortunately, it looks like the US is becoming such.)

 

[Loren Pechtel]

So happy they are selling their daughters?

This is a BBC report. I am not surprised. Western media is the second biggest liar, only Trump beats it..
Selling children happens among the Iranian nomads too, whatever be your reaction. The sold children are treated well by their buyers. They become dependent members of the new family, like Zayd ibn Harithah was to Muhammad. Marrying children before adulthood is not prohibited in Islam. Ayesha is reported to have been six year old when she was married to Muhammad, and liked playing with dolls.

And how is this not slavery? You appear to be condoning slavery.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Look at the missiles.
US: solid fueled.
Russia: mostly liquid fueled.
Liquid fueled missiles are not second strike capable, the weapons say doctrine is first use.

I am not a missile expert. But I am happy that India will test Agni-VI very soon.
"Agni-VI is a four-stage intercontinental ballistic missile, MIRV (Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle) and MaRV (Maneuverable reentry vehicle).
Agni-VI can avoid missile defense systems like China's HQ-19, the United States' THAAD, and Russia's S-500 by employing MaRVs, decoys, and radar-absorbent coatings." Wikipedia

Estimated range of Agni-VI ICBM and its predecessors

And what's the relevance?

You are talking about a solid fuel missile. Solid fuel sits in the missile. It's ready to go anytime, if you detect an incoming attack you can launch it before the launcher gets fried. Thus it's second strike capable.

The Russian stuff is liquid fueled. All such propellants are either cryogenic or corrosive nightmares--you don't just store your missiles fueled. Which means if there's an unexpected incoming strike there's no way to get the missile off before it's destroyed. Thus it's only a first strike weapon.

Reality: Apollo lunar lander. We tested the engines. Then we took them apart, cleaned them carefully, put them back together and loaded them onto the Saturn V. The engines were not fired after reassembly despite the fact that lives rested on them working correctly.

 

[bilby]

Hypergolic nightmare stuff

It could be worse.

It is hypergolic with every known fuel, and so rapidly hypergolic that no ignition delay has ever been measured. It is also hypergolic with such things as cloth, wood, and test engineers, not to mention asbestos, sand, and water —with which it reacts explosively.

 

[aupmanyav]

I bet you will, given that the mark V was already capable of hitting all the plausible targets.
Military men don't like the idea that they can't hit (say) New Zealand, even if there is zero reason why they would ever want or need to.

ICBM makers will keep "improving" their designs until they can hit every point on the planet. And then they will still "improve" their designs to carry bigger payloads (just in case the Chinese build a roof over Beijing that is proof against a "mere" 10MT of MIRV'ed warheads).

I believe Indian Army does not want to attack windmills. They need to have as much as necessary. Each development needs money. Perhaps Agni VI is necessitated by true MIRV capability.
"The Agni-VI was the first missile expected to be equipped with MIRV capability. .. However, the government has no sought proposals from DRDO on the project as of 2026." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agni-V#MIRV

 

[aupmanyav]

And how is this not slavery? You appear to be condoning slavery.

If it is slavery, then it is slavery. That is what their book says. Their way, their culture. Who are we to intervene?
India, at present, recognizes Muslim laws though it is moderated by Indian Supreme Court. However we are bringing in a uniform civil code which does away with all gender-based differences. It has already been implemented in some states.

 

[aupmanyav]

You are talking about a solid fuel missile. Solid fuel sits in the missile. It's ready to go anytime, if you detect an incoming attack you can launch it before the launcher gets fried. Thus it's second strike capable.

The Russian stuff is liquid fueled. All such propellants are either cryogenic or corrosive nightmares--you don't just store your missiles fueled. Which means if there's an unexpected incoming strike there's no way to get the missile off before it's destroyed. Thus it's only a first strike weapon.

We are not talking of Russian missiles. Both Agni V and Agni VI are solid fueled. I do not think Russia is that far behind in technology.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

I don't think we will have a missile of range greater than Agni VI.

I bet you will, given that the mark V was already capable of hitting all the plausible targets.

Military men don't like the idea that they can't hit (say) New Zealand, even if there is zero reason why they would ever want or need to.

ICBM makers will keep "improving" their designs until they can hit every point on the planet. And then they will still "improve" their designs to carry bigger payloads (just in case the Chinese build a roof over Beijing that is proof against a "mere" 10MT of MIRV'ed warheads).

1) Depressed trajectory decapitation strike. Realistically, only meaningful if you have boomers, and only if you opponent's capital is reasonably near the ocean. Enough power, send the missile basically flat rather than a high ballistic lob. The idea is to get a mushroom cloud on the target before the various layers of the enemy system can react.

2) Bigger missile = more decoys. With missile defense being more of an issue these days this matters.

 

[DrZoidberg]

There's no way the Taleban could have succeeded in surviving all those years and conquering without the support of Afghan women.

Afghan men can cook their own meals. The women are obligated to satisfy the sexual urge of their men, otherwise divorce or another wife. They are permitted to have four.

Sure. But they rarely do. Its a sign of Muslim piety and humility to only have one. Which is a thing among the Taleban.

 

[aupmanyav]

Sure. But they rarely do. Its a sign of Muslim piety and humility to only have one. Which is a thing among the Taleban.

Perhaps true of Muslims in western countries. In the sub-continent, divorce or second marriage is not rare.

Missiles: Agni-VI is an experimental 10 war-head MIRV/MaRV design.

 

[DrZoidberg]

Sure. But they rarely do. Its a sign of Muslim piety and humility to only have one. Which is a thing among the Taleban.

Perhaps true of Muslims in western countries. In the sub-continent, divorce or second marriage is not rare.

Missiles: Agni-VI is an experimental 10 war-head MIRV/MaRV design.

Divorce and second marriage is not the same thing as polygamy. That's standard in the west and nobody refers to that as having multiple wives

 

[barbos]

Liquid fueled missiles are not second strike capable, the weapons say doctrine is first use.

Says who?
Russian ICMBs are stored fueled and ready to be launched instantly.

 

[bilby]

Liquid fueled missiles are not second strike capable, the weapons say doctrine is first use.

Says who?
Russian ICMBs are stored fueled and ready to be launched instantly.

Also, Ukraine will be defeated within three days of the start of the Special Military Operation on 24 February, 2022.

 

[barbos]

Liquid fueled missiles are not second strike capable, the weapons say doctrine is first use.

Says who?
Russian ICMBs are stored fueled and ready to be launched instantly.

Also, Ukraine will be defeated within three days of the start of the Special Military Operation on 24 February, 2022.

Russian silo based ICMBs are sitting fully fueled and can be launched instantly.
It costs more to maintain but they have higher payload and more flexible in flight profile.
Moreover, we have solid fuel ICBMs, mobile and stationary (silo)

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

So it seems like the peace deal being discussed is more a memorandum of understanding, which really makes one wonder just how much staying power it'll have, and what difference, if any would occur if signed. Reopening Hormuz in 30 days isn't good enough. Heck, reopening it 30 days ago, still not good enough. Any delay in any of these aspects would make this nothing but extending a ceasefire deal.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Hypergolic nightmare stuff

It could be worse.

It is hypergolic with every known fuel, and so rapidly hypergolic that no ignition delay has ever been measured. It is also hypergolic with such things as cloth, wood, and test engineers, not to mention asbestos, sand, and water —with which it reacts explosively.

Just because bigger nightmares exist doesn't make it not a nightmare.

I'll see your ClF3 and raise it FOOF.