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Comment by hugh_ | Hacker News Reader

I stand corrected. Don't aircraft carriers have pretty good missile defence systems, though?

It's the bullet-hitting-bullet problem. Some labs are working on focusing light on targets to melt key components. Others do a 'metal sheet' in pellet form with the thought that if you put enough metal in the air, you're bound to hit targets...

No. They have effectively none.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/cvn-68.h...

The NIMITZ-class self-defense measures include: missiles, guns, and electronic warfare. The NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System is comprised of two launchers with eight missiles each. Sea Sparrow is a radar-guided, short-to-medium range missile capable of engaging aircraft and cruise missiles. NIMITZ-class also has Close-In Weapon System mounts for short range defense against aircraft or missiles. Each mount has its own search and track radar, and a six-barrel, 20-millimeter Gatling gun capable of firing 3,000 rounds per minute

Untrue. The entirety of surface fleet doctrine in the modern USN is focused on protection of the carriers (and other force projection ships) from attack. Pretty much every ship you see is a "carrier defense mechanism", as are most of the aircraft on deck.

They have plenty of defences. However, a ballistica missile re-entering is going very fast and is therefore very hard to intercept. It is also not a threat that carrier battle groups have been designed to combat.

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