Malaysia Developing Missile Technology
December 3, 2006 :: BBC Worldwide Monitoring :: News
Malaysia is developing missile technology at its Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Skudai, according to a report from the New Straits Times. According to Dr. Mohd Zulkifli Mohd Ghazali, vice chancellor of UTM, the “mini missile project” began several months ago and is headed by an associate professor at the university. Zulkifli noted that the government-funded project has already shown “promising results.” “The missiles on solid propellants can fly and hit the targets,” he said. “This is an achievement which we hope to develop further.” He added that the project will soon enter the second stage of development, adding that the university had applied for additional funding. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Proliferation, Technology
Research May Lead to New Hypersonic Warhead Technologies
October 17, 2006 :: Air Force Materiel Command :: News
Air Force Materiel Command reports that an Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate science and engineering team in Arlington, Virginia, is conducting hypersonic research that could lead to new warhead technologies. The team is studying the aerodynamic characteristics of hypersonic projectiles at sea-level conditions, traveling at equal to or greater than five times the speed of sound. Such projectiles normally fly at very high altitudes, and thus many basic questions about hypersonic flight at sea-level conditions have yet to be answered. The Air Force team is currently using highly advanced computational fluid dynamics codes to model hypersonic flows at speeds of around Mach 6. According to Dr. John D. Schmisseur, a program manager at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research which is funding the team, “We’ll be able to hopefully revolutionize some of the analysis tools to help develop new warhead technologies for the warfighter.” (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Technology
Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Strategic Illuminator Laser
October 16, 2006 :: Spacewar.com :: News
Northrop Grumman reports that it has recently demonstrated a next-generation, solid-state laser known as the Strategic Illuminator Laser (SILL), now considered the most powerful continuously pulsed laser ever built. The SILL program, funded by the Missile Defense Agency since 2004, successfully demonstrated multi-kilowatt-class average output power, operating at 5 kHz, with sufficient beam quality for a run time of five minutes.
Illuminator lasers would be critical components of any high energy weapon system. They would be used in conjunction with tracking sensors to help point the laser weapon at the target, and also in conjunction with wavefront sensors to help clean up distortion in the laser beam caused by the atmosphere and other parts of the weapon’s optical system so that the beam can be focused to a smaller spot at the target. The SILL program is developing a laser that will be significantly smaller and lighter compared with current high-power illuminator systems. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Technology, High Energy Defenses
KEI Missile Undergoes Wind-Tunnel Tests in Missouri
July 29, 2005 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
The Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) recently underwent a series of high-speed wind-tunnel tests in St. Louis, Missouri, reports Jane’s Missiles & Rockets. The tests were intended to acquire data on the interceptor’s aerodynamics, high-frequency pressure, and acoustics, which will be used to select the proper nose shape for the KEI.
The KEI is the planned boost-phase interceptor component of the U.S. layered ballistic missile defense system. (Link)
» More stories on: Technology, Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI)
Photos Indicate Improvements to Iranian Shahab-3
August 30, 2004 :: Ha'aretz :: News
Photographs of the Iranian Shahab-3 missile recently published in Iranian newspapers indicate that the warhead has undergone improvements. The photographs reportedly indicate that the missile’s warhead has a flatter shape, which would cause it to re-enter the atmosphere more slowly, allowing its contents to be better protected, important in the case of a chemical warhead. The Israeli Ha’aretz newspaper describes the improvements as characterizing “a daring approach to their technological planning,” and notes that “It is very likely that the Iranians are being assisted by foreign experts from the former Soviet Union hired by Iran under personal contracts, or by experts from North Korea.” The photographs also reportedly indicate that “various short wings” are added on the warhead itself, possibly to aid in re-entry. (Article, Link)
» Washington Times on Shahab-3 warhead improvements
» More stories on: Iran, Technology
» Missile details: Shahab-3
Private Rocket Reaches Space
May 18, 2004 :: BBC :: News
Representing another marker in the advancing state of ballistic missile technology, the first privately constructed rocket has reached an altitude of over 100km. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Technology
South Korea Develops “Cold Launch” Technology
May 10, 2004 :: Xinhua
China’s Xinhua News Agency reports that South Korea has become the second nation, after Russia, to perfect “cold launch” technology, which involves the minimizing of launching flames which serve as a sort of marker for the launching site. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Technology
Fylingdales Radar Revamp Begins
April 13, 2004 :: BBC :: News
Work has begun on the upgrades for Britain’s Royal Air Force radar station at Fylingdales, to better incorporate it into the American missile defense system. The technological upgrades include faster computers and related systems. The radar system will be an important part of the detection and tracking of potential missile launches. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Technology
European Missile Warning Satellites
March 8, 2004 :: Reuters :: News
While not purusing active missile defenses, France may be waking up to the need for such systems. Alcatel Space, a subsidiary of the French communications company Alcatel, appears to be now set to build missile early warning satellites for the European space company, EADS, according to Reuters. The contract is for the Systeme Preparatoire Infra-Rouge pur l’Alerte (SPIRALE) project, meaning infra-red early alert system. The two satellites could be launched in 2008.
Update: The March issue of Janes Missiles and Rockets confirms the report by Reuters. (Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Technology
Israel to Build Airship to Track Missiles
March 4, 2004 :: Washington Times :: News
Precise monitoring and tracking of incoming ballistic missiles is an important element to defend against them. In recent months, the US has begun research on a High Altitude Airship, a necxt-generation blimp, to do just this. Now Israel has followed suit, and begun to develop its own such device. Theirs would be 200 yards long and 60 yards wide, would remain at 70,000 feet above the surface for years, and would be capable of tracking missiles up to 600 miles away. (Link)
» More stories on: Air, Israel, Technology
» Missile system details for: High Altitude Airship (Blimp)
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