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You actually think they don't already?
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What would be the point? MAD relies on everyone knowing you can take them out if they attack you. What does a space weapon offer additionally that makes the huge expense worthwhile?

MAD is not military doctrine and never has been. It's a philosophical concept that arose in the mid 1960s and gained column-inches in the press because it had a cool and ironic name. Even McNamara rejected it.

USA, China and Russia all plan to fight and win wars, not go out in a blaze with the other guy. And that includes 'nuclear warfighting' which involves the ability to command and control nuclear exchanges and come out the other side victorious.


I would argue that despite not being military doctrine, it has been effective. Nuclear deterence is demonstrably real. It is a form of Nash equilibrium.

I am not sure there is any limited nuclear exchange that is not so risky as to be worthless unless you just want to die.

Space based nuclear weapons do not improve your survivability. Space based nuclear missile interception might - if you could pretty much ensure you could take out the majority of your opponents missiles (star wars).

The problem there is it destabilises the Nash equilibrium of MAD and makes it more likely someone will initiate a first strike before your defensive capability is complete...


Killing opponents' satellites comes to mind.

Not every target is on the ground.


Space based weapons have been discussed as one of the ways to break MAD eg space based systems can see and stop a nuclear missile before it could land

Controlling the high ground has been a critical element of warfare ever since the primary weapons were spears. If you want to claim that isn't the case then the burden of proof is on you.

Are you serious? Just because you have nuclear weapons doesn't mean all other forms of military are useless. I don't even know how to parse that argument to respond in more detail.

I was responding to this comment specifically about nukes:

>Everyone is equal with - they all have nukes in space sitting over each other's countries waiting to drop


I think he was saying China already has weapons in space. Not necessarily nukes.

My bad

No, of course they don't.



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