An Army Rapier missile defence battery is deployed at Blackheath, south east London, on May 2, 2012, our contributor writes. The missiles are being readied as part of Operation Exercise Olympic Guardian which is taking place in London over the next few days to test security for the London 2012 Olympics.
The British military claims the Rapiers — that have a range of up to 8,000 meters (five miles) — would be deployed as the last line of defense.
The Rapier surface-to-air missile has enough power to take down a Boeing 747 if needed to protect the spectators in the Olympic Stadium. But that's a terrorism nightmare scenario that is hoped will never occur.
The missiles have caused Londoners to have mixed emotions —especially when they learned of the possibility of the missiles being stationed on their roofs.
The British military hopes that the showing of their defense power will ward off potential terrorists, foreign or domestic.
The London Olympics will begin in July 2012.