It would be the first time the nation has had a system for destroying warheads aimed at American soil since the short-lived Safeguard program in the 1970's.
An even more powerful beam might be able to destroy missiles and warheads.
Another might link approval to the release of funds to help the Russians destroy warheads.
We'll go into Hussein's backyard, take or destroy the missiles and warheads, and leave as quick as we can.
A diagram in the paper shows the Russian concept of a mobile land-based system that would be cued by satellites and that would destroy incoming warheads.
The system, initially with six rocket interceptors in Alaska and four in California, will fire "kill vehicles" that would destroy warheads by force of impact.
The missile defense planned by the Bush administration may be least able to destroy warheads from countries that are thought to pose the biggest threat, federal and private experts say.
If even more powerful than that, the lasers might be able to destroy incoming missiles and warheads, making the facility a violation of the ABM treaty.
A very strong laser could destroy warheads and missiles.
The Pentagon is also studying an 'overlay' system, in which non-nuclear missiles would destroy warheads or missiles in space en route to their target.