An early missile age is possible by the 1950s in this projection. British and American work on rocket air defence provides a starting point, including an unsuccessful-looking British concept for placing mines in the sky. Radar-guided gunnery suggests a sequence of further steps toward guided rockets and a surface-to-air missile. Progress would depend on the problems exposed by growing carrier and land-based air forces during exercises and on available research money. The funding argument is that continued rearmament and development cost less than fighting a major war.
Notable Point · 41:55-43:13
Peacetime deterrence sustains missile research
Carrier exercises and growing land-based air power could justify radar-guided missile research because deterrent rearmament costs less than fighting a major war.