January 13, 2005 :: Defense News :: News
The head of the Missile Defense Agency, Lt. General Henry Obering, yesterday explained that the December 15 failed attempt to test the ground based interceptor was due to a “very minor software glitch,” which can easily be remedied, according to Defense News. The glitch was said to be a “gap in the flow of electronic messages between the flight computer and the interceptor’s thrust vector controller.”
As to the actual, formal deployment of the Alaska-California based system, Obering largely repeated the remarks of Secretary Rumsfeld on December 22, that it may not be anytime soon, and that it may be made operational without “formal” announcement:
“I cannot tell you there is going to be a date certain when we will to declare anything. I can tell you we do have a capability that is out there. We continue in the process of improving it, and we continue in the process of exercising with it … and we will continue in that mode.”
Some five flight tests of the system are scheduled for 2005, including at least two attempted intercepts. Obering is also quoted as saying that the Pentagon may repeat the test, IFT-13c, as early as mid-February. The next test, IFT-14, is slated for March or April. (Article)
» Reuters on Obering explanation
» More stories on: Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI), Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD)
