The thing is. SLS is ludicrously more expensive then Space X rocket because congress basically strong armed NASA into re-using shuttle hardware to keep jobs. And SLS can put about 100t, twice as much payload to orbit compared to Falcon Heavy.

Shuttle was supposed to be a lot more reusable, with a reusable 1st stage, as well as the shuttle we know. But, post Apolo budget cut (and quite frankly technological limitations of 1970s), killed the design. NASA had to compromise further to keep the program going, by offering to allow the air force to use a shuttle for satellite capture (which it never did). And skipping technical details, it made the shuttle even less reusable, and also gave it it’s iconic look with the wing in the rears.

I forgot my point so take the info dump for free

Wouldn’t that be “impermeated”

And that justifies the students getting jailed?

They can also be flying with extra munitions under the wings. At which point they stop being stealthy.

Also stealth aircraft are notoriously difficult and sensitive on maintenance. So might be a case of stealth degrading after a few weeks of intense operation.

And the theory I see floating around on forums is that it was a QAEM-118 missile. Since it has IR and optical guidance that could ignore sheath at shorter ranges/low speed. And some US missions might be flying at low altitude to make use of terrain masking.

Phalanx is self defense only. The weapons used to protect nearby ships are ESSM and SM-2 missiles. Which should to work fine to intercept cheap drone, artillery and ballistic missiles. (Tho very expressive to intercept artillery with missiles)

The navy has used those systems recently to defend ships during the Houti crisis in the red sea.