A new take on Missile Defense

Theodore Postol published an op-ed in the New York Times that proposes a new take on missile defense:

The defense would have fast-accelerating interceptors that could home in on and destroy the large, slow and fragile ICBMs. The interceptors would weigh about a ton and could achieve a top speed of five kilometers per second in tens of seconds. They would be carried by stealthy unmanned airborne vehicles that look like B-2 bombers, but are smaller and carry much smaller, though still substantial, payloads. Such vehicles already exist.

The proposal, undoubtedly constrained by the length of an opinion piece, would have to be able to sufficiently prove the author's assertion that the system, "would be technologically feasible, and could be developed, built and deployed near the areas of concern in a relatively short time."  Missile defense is no easy game and Obama has shown his disapproval for "unproven" systems.  There also will be pushback on the idea that current missile defense plans are "provocative, unworkable" yet the new system would "pose no threat to Russia or China."  A cooperative missile defense arrangement with Russia, whether based in Eastern Europe or unmaned aerial vehicles, seems to be the one of the common solutions to allaying Russian fears.  If this came to fruition, it could be valuable by will be a difficult agreeement to reach.  China, however, would likely not remain quiet as U.S. interceptors flew within proximity of projected North Korean launch sites.  The system may not completely eliminite Chinese strike abilities but nonetheless could significantly alter deterrence calculations in Asia.  At the very least, the Chinese would raise havoc and would need some concessions to allow this idea to fly.