What would the effects be on post-war air power if the Germans hadn't built the V2 rocket? Let's say, just to keep things simple, that they spent the freed-up money on a mix of more V1s and something completely useless, like sonic weapons, so that the effects on WW2 itself are negligible.
Presumably this delays ICBMs. In a previous thread, there was considerable disagreement on how long a delay there would be, with opinion split roughly evenly between 25 years, 5 years, or none at all. I'm thinking 5-10 years, based on averaging views expressed in that thread. Presumably the US would keep pushing intercontinental ramjet missiles like the Navaho; could they eventually be made to work reliably?
How much effect would this have on SAMs? I know the German effort was an outgrowth of Peenmunde, but the US already had its own nascent projects using ramjets or solid rockets. Would the B-70 still be cancelled, or would it be fielded as the last high-altitude bomber?
Would the Soviets try to bluff with cruise missiles in the late 50s the way Krushchev did with ballistic missiles? Or would they pursue more conventional long-range aviation?
Thoughts?
Presumably this delays ICBMs. In a previous thread, there was considerable disagreement on how long a delay there would be, with opinion split roughly evenly between 25 years, 5 years, or none at all. I'm thinking 5-10 years, based on averaging views expressed in that thread. Presumably the US would keep pushing intercontinental ramjet missiles like the Navaho; could they eventually be made to work reliably?
How much effect would this have on SAMs? I know the German effort was an outgrowth of Peenmunde, but the US already had its own nascent projects using ramjets or solid rockets. Would the B-70 still be cancelled, or would it be fielded as the last high-altitude bomber?
Would the Soviets try to bluff with cruise missiles in the late 50s the way Krushchev did with ballistic missiles? Or would they pursue more conventional long-range aviation?
Thoughts?