May 12, 2004 :: Inside Defense :: News
The May 12 edition of Inside Missile Defense reports that the Missile Defense Agency plans to use a converted assault ship for six missile defense tests over the next 18 months. The ship would use the ship to launch both targets and interceptors, and would involve a number of systems including the Patriot (PAC-3), the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), and the joint U.S.-Israel Arrow interceptor.
The report is significant for two reasons. First, the systems listed as to be tested are usually land-based (they do not include the Aegis SM-3 interceptor): that they would potentially be launched from a ship would seem to show some measure of innovation. Second, and more importantly, the use of a ship for the launch of targets, that is, of a missile simulating an enemy’s launches, may indicate the possibility of testing for the prospect of ship-launched ballistic missile threats, such as one off the coast of the United States. Against such threats, current Ground Based Interceptors such as those to be deployed in Alaska and California this year, would probably provide no defense.
Def. Sec. Rumsfeld and Asst. Sec. Wolfowitz have both warned of the prospect of a ship-launched missile off our nation’s coast, in the month of October 2001 and 2002, respectively.
It is against threats such as these which require extensive defenses along our coasts, or more especially space-based defenses capable of near-instantaneous reaction, such as a space-based laser. (Article)
» Missilethreat.com scenario: A ship-launched SCUD off coast of California against Hollywood
» Oct. 21, 2001: Rumsfeld warns that rogue state has test launched ship-based missile
» Oct. 24, 2002: Wolfowitz warns of ship-launched threat
» More stories on: Testing - American
