Re: Boost Phase Only?
That is the argument, but that doesn't mean it is correct. Also, the idea that large planes cannot be continuously flown (to be positioned for so called boost phase intercept) is at least a little suspect. Thousands of airline flights are flown everyday (in fact, thousands can be in the air at a given moment), so a few ABLs in a battle theatre is not at all outrageous. But I'll let somebody else do the flying, I'm getting too soft for that kind of danger...an ABL is arguably as vulnerable as a rocket in boost phase: high stresses, volatile fuels, critical guidance systems...