Miniature Kill Vehicles
February 9, 2004 :: SpaceDaily :: News
Lockheed Martin has received a contract to develop a “miniature” missile defense interceptor. The idea of such an interceptor would be to destroy multiple warheads released by a single missile, or both the warhead as well as any possible countermeasures.
A number of interceptors, by some accounts as many as 12, would be housed within a single launch vehicle, and then released together at a certain point when approaching the offensive missile. (Article, Link)
» Space and MD Command: description of MKV
» Jan. 7, 2004: MDA contract, description of MKV
» More stories on: Policy, Space-Based Systems
Report: U.S. Defenses May Become Operation Ahead of Schedule, in Early Summer
February 2, 2004 :: Washington Post :: News
The Pentagon may begin operation of the land-based missile defense interceptors to be based in Alaska and California as early as this summer, some months ahead of a September 30 deadline.
“If we could have some capability, we’d be negligent not to put it out as early as we could,” said one senior military officer involved in the program. (Article, Link)
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Popular Science: MDA’s Blimps
February 1, 2004 :: Popular Science :: News
The February edition of Popular Science magazine carries an article about the blimps the Missile Defense Agency is considering incorporating into its early warning network, graced with the clever title, “Defense Inflation.”
Inasmuch as the blimps offer reliable stationary platform for tracking missiles, they are useful. But inasmuch as they are a substitute for more advanced space-based systems, they represent a sort of halfway house: a serious attempt to pursue missile defense compromised by irrational aversion to “weaponizing space.” Defensive measures, it must be remembered, are not the concern with weaponizing space: the ballistic missiles themselves, which leave the atmosphere during flight, are by definition “space weapons.” (Article, Link)
» Oct. 22, 2003: Blimps Considered for Layered BMD Architecture
» More stories on: Air, Policy, Technology
Polish-US Missile Cooperation
January 28, 2004 :: SpaceDaily :: News
The future of missile defense continues to gain strength internationally. Lockheed Martin and the Polish firm, Telecommunication Industrial Institute (PIT), today signed a letter of intent pledging cooperation in missile defense-related radar technology. The significance of such contracts is that Europe, long reluctant to missile defense because it was more comfortable being protected by the US nuclear arsenal, is coming around to both the need to defend itself and the importance of missile defense in a world of wide proliferation.
Update: The February 11 edition of Jane’s Defence Weekly noted that this agreement involves lesser, tactical, programs, than a more comprehensive one with Boeing which previously stalled. (Article, Link)
» Lockheed Martin press release
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Clark Blames 9-11 on Bush Overemphasis on Missile Defense; Clark, Dean Equivocate on Judgment of Actual BMD Policies
January 25, 2004 :: San Francisco Chronicle :: News
“One of the reasons we had 9/11 is because this president spent too much time worried about national missile defense and not enough time worried about the greatest threat to this country,” said Democratic presidential hopeful General Wesley Clark to a crowd of supporters just two days before New Hampshire’s primary.
Asked whether he would continue Bush’s emphasis on missile defense, Clark said he would have to study the issue: “What I’ll do is take an objective look at it and make a decision.” Although Clark seems to say that the Bush administration overemphasizes missile defense, he seemed unwilling to make a statement for or against the actual programs, however: “I don’t know if it will work and I don’t know if it’s worth the money.” (More »»»)
» Dec. 11, 2003: Survey: 2 of 6 Democratic candidates favor missile defense (Dean and Lieberman)
» Democratic Senator John Kerry’s first speech was in opposition to MX missiles
» Guardian: Dean’s inconsistency on missile defense
» More stories on: Policy
Alaskan Missile Defense Unit the Second to be Activated
January 22, 2004 :: Fairbanks Daily News :: News
An Alaskan missile defense unit, to be based at Fort Greely, is the second to be activated in anticipation for the scheduled deployment of the ground-based system in September or October of this year. A ceremony for the formal activation was held at Fort Greely on Thursday.
In October, the Colorado National Guard’s 100th Missile Defense Brigade was the first to be activated. It is based at the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center near Colorado Springs. The Alaska unit is similarly manned by Alaska National Guard soldiers. (More »»»)
» Washington Times: AK MD Unit Activated
» October 25, 2003: Colorado MD Unit First to be Activated
» Army Times: Missile Defense Space Batallion activated
» More stories on: Land-Based Systems, Policy
Spring on Missile Defense Opponents
January 20, 2004 :: The Heritage Foundation :: Analysis
Baker Spring of the Heritage Foundation considers that elites’ opposition to missile defenses is based in neither principle nor response to the popular will, but arrogance. He claims that the policies of, for example, Governor Howard Dean would be a return to Mutually Assured Destruction. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Analysis, Policy
Survey: New Hampshire Voters Strongly Favor Pro-Missile Defense Candidates
January 13, 2004 :: Yahoo News :: News
The days when the Democratic party was the party opposing missile defense may soon be numbered. A survey released by the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA) found some surprising results in favor of missile defense among voters in New Hampshire. Overall, 75% of NH voters and 66% of likely voters in the Democratic Primary support a missile defense system. Moreover, 64% of likely voters would support the deployment of current partial missile defense system—which the Bush administration has said will take place this year.
“The Democratic candidates have a chance to clarify their position with New Hampshire voters and clearly articulate their views on funding and deploying a missile defense system,” said Riki Ellison, the MDAA founder and CEO: “Voters in the Democratic Primary know the threat of attack is real, they are confident in our ability to develop and deploy the system we need, and they understand there is a proven technology for an effective, affordable system for missile defense.” “Too many of the Democratic candidates say they support funding for missile defense but oppose deployment,” said Ellison; “The candidates should declare their commitment to protecting US cities by deploying a missile defense system.” (More »»»)
» MDAA website
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Two of Six Democratic Presidential Candidates Support National Missile Defense
December 11, 2003 :: LA Times :: News
Governor Howard Dean and Senator Joseph Lieberman were the only two of six Democratic presidential candidates who came out in support of national missile defense, in their responses to a survey by the virulently anti-missile defense organization, Council for a Livable World. (More »»»)
» Full responses to Council for Livable World questionnaire
» Update: Dean would cut funding of Ground Based Interceptors (those based in Alaska)
» December 22: MDAA’s Riki Ellison challenges Dean to clarify his position on BMD, and apparent reversal
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Rumsfeld: Missile Defense “America’s Highest Priority”; Space “Fundamental to Modern Warfare”
December 10, 2003 :: Department of Defense :: News
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld today hammered home two key points about the means to provide for the common defense: the priority of missile defense and the importance of space-based defenses. Speaking via video feed to attendees of a missile defense symposium in El Paso, Texas, Secretary Rumsfeld said that defending America, its overseas military and its allies from ballistic missiles laden with weapons of mass destruction “is now America’s highest priority.” State sponsors of terrorism “either have or are working hard to acquire nuclear, chemical or biological weapons of mass destruction and the long-range missiles necessary to deliver them.” When missile defense “is no longer a dream, but a reality, the world will be a much safer place for Americans, and for all people who long for peace and freedom.” He also gave notice that Alaska’s Missile Defense Space Battalion is slated for activation in January, and praised the Patriot missile crews’ performance during the Iraq war.
Putting space into the context of the “Revolution in Military Affairs,” he observed that “the importance of space and missile defense in this endeavor cannot be overstated.” The importance of space-based systems “will only increase in the future,” he said, calling space as “fundamental to modern warfare” and unfettered access to space “a vital U.S. national interest.” (Article, Link)
» Link
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