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Missed X-Band Radar Test Opportunity

April 15, 2009 :: Washington Times :: News

The Washington Times' Bill Gertz reports that Defense Secretary Robert Gates denied a request by U.S. Northern Command to use the Sea-Based X-band radar system to track North Korea's April 5 missile launch.  It is unclear why it was not used; some explanations on offer are that it was undergoing maintenance at the time, its seaworthiness is unclear, the Obama administration didn't want to jeopardize diplomatic negotiations with North Korea, and the military determined the system wasn't necessary for the monitoring of what was determined to be a space launch rather than a standard ICBM test.

 

Investor's Business Daily editorializes that this was a missed opportunity to gather valuable intelligence and "electronic signatures" on the Taepo-Dong-2—information that would be useful in the possibility of future launches (or attacks) by North Korea. (Article)

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