U.S. Tests Minuteman III from Vandenberg AFB
July 23, 2004 :: News
A Minuteman III missile was launched early this morning from Vandenberg Air Force Base, the third test flight of an American ICBM from that base in a month. The missile traveled some 4,800 miles and delivered its dummy warhead to the Ronald Reagan missile range in the Kwajalein atoll. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Testing - American
» Missile details: Minuteman III
» Missile system details for: Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (RTS)
Peacekeeper Missile Test Launched
July 21, 2004 :: The Lompoc Record :: News
The United States today test launched an unarmed Peacekeeper (also called the “MX”) missile, the second to last test scheduled for the program. The routine Peacekeeper test took place from Vandenberg Air Force Base, and was directed to the Kwajalein Missile Range in the Pacific Ocean, some 4,800 miles distant. The test is said to have included the delivery of eight unarmed warheads to the missile range. (Article, Link)
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» Missile details: Peacekeeper
» Missile system details for: Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (RTS)
Guided MLRS Rockets Successfully Tested
July 13, 2004 :: Lockheed Martin :: News
Lockheed Martin reports the second successful flight test of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rocket at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., taking place on June 30.
The GMLRS rocket has a high explosive warhead of 180 pounds, and a range of about 70 kilometers. (Article, Link)
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» Missile details: Guided MLRS
Minuteman III Tracked by BMD Radar During Test
June 23, 2004 :: Air Force :: News
The U.S. Air Force today successfully test launched a Minuteman III ballistic missile. Launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the missile hit its target 4,200 miles away, at the Kwajalein Missile Range in the Marshall Islands. Some 500 Minuteman III missiles are deployed in the continental United States.
The test launch provided an opportunity to test the missile defense radar based on an Aegis ship, in this case the USS Paul Hamilton, and the sending of that information to the missile defense command center in Colorado Springs, to generate a fire control solution, as if the Minuteman had been a real target. (Article, Link)
» MDA release on missile tracking
» Aegis ship-based missile defense radar tracks Minuteman III
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» Missile details: Minuteman III
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
MEADS Simulation Completed
May 18, 2004 :: News
The MEADS program today announced the completion of a demonstration which clears the way for the program to enter design and development. The demonstration took place at Practica di Mare Air Base outside Rome on May 6. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Land-Based Systems, Testing - American
Ship-Based Missile Defense Tests Planned for 2004
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, Link)
» 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
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THEL Test Successful
May 6, 2004 :: Northrop Grumman :: News
The Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) successfully destroyed a rocket by means of a laser on May 4, reports its producer, Northrop Grumman in a press release today. The test is described as “history making,” because the rocket destroyed was “larger, faster and that flies higher than previous threats destroyed by the laser weapon demonstrator.” A previous test this past week succeeded in its primary goal of tracking the rocket but did not attempt to destroy it. The target rockets in both tests were 6 1/2 inches in diameter and 11 feet long.
The interception comes as part of a series of tests begun on April 29. These specific tests were of a mobile form of the laser, called MTHEL, which will be the first version deployable of the weapons system. THEL is a collaborative effort between Israel and the United States, often tested at White Sands, New Mexico.
In programs such as THEL, the speed of lasers permits rapid interception of both short range rockets with a short flight time, as in the case of Israel, but also the ability to destroy larger, even intercontinental ballistic missiles during their brief ascent, or boost phase. Whereas another land-based boostphase program, the Kinetic Energy Interceptor, must devise methods for the interceptor to achieve extremely high velocities in order to “catch up” with an enemy missile during a brief ascent window, lasers based on land or in space would permit much more comfortable reaction times. (Article, Link)
» April 30, 2004: Previous MTHEL test
» April 21, 2003: THEL selected by Army
» More stories on: High Energy Defenses, Israel, Testing - American, Testing - Foreign
» Missile system details for: Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL)
Japan-U.S. Joint Test in 2005
May 6, 2004 :: Kyodo :: News
Japan and the United States are planning to conduct their first joint flight test in the second half of 2005 for sea-based missile interceptors. A second flight test would follow in 2006. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Testing - American, Testing - Foreign
MDA Tests Long Range Air-Launch Target
May 3, 2004 :: The Missile Defense Agency :: News
The Missile Defense Agency today successfully conducted a demonstration launch of a Long Range Air Launch Target (LRALT) missile. The test involved the LRALT boosting a simulated reentry vehicle atop a converted Minuteman II missile stage. The simulated reentry vehicle would resemble one which might be fired from a hostile nation, and which would be used as a target in tests of missile defense interceptors. The LRALT was launched from a point just south of Midway Island to the vicinity of Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. (Article, Link)
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THEL Tested at White Sands
April 30, 2004 :: Spacewar.com :: News
A test of the joint U.S.-Israeli anti-missile laser Nautilus was successfully conducted on April 30 at the White Sands U.S. Army base in New Mexico, reports the Jeruslaem Post. The Nautilus test was part of the umbrella THEL (Tactical High Energy Laser) project.
The primary objective of locating the missile and tracking it was accomplished, though the secondary objective, to destroy it, was not attempted, according to an Army press release.
The mobile version of the THEL has already been effective against short range Soviet-origin Katyusha rockets which are often fired at Israel from across the Lebanese border by Hezbollah groups. The THEL is expected to be battlefield ready by 2007. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: High Energy Defenses, Israel, Testing - American, Testing - Foreign
» Missile system details for: Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL)
