Miller on Successful BMD Test
John Miller of NRO discusses the ‘power politics’ of missile defense, and the recent test success of the ground based system:
“Instead of appreciation for an incredible technological achievement —- one with enormous practical benefits in a dangerous world, by the way —- there’s almost a sigh of disappointment when the Pentagon shows it can ‘hit a bullet with a bullet,’ as the generals like to say.”
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» More stories on: Analysis
» Missile system details for: Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI)
Successful GMD Test
The Missile Defense Agency reports the fourth successful test of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Segment, in the most complex missile defense test to date. At 9:11pm Saturday, a modified Minuteman ICBM was launched from Vandenburg Air Force Base in California, fired out into the Pacific. Twenty minutes later, a prototype interceptor was launched from the Ronald Reagan missile site on the Marshall Islands, some 4,800 miles away. The interceptor destroyed the missile in midcourse at 9:40, over 140 miles above the earth.
Like the sea-based test of January 25, this test also used an exoatmospheric kill vehicle (EKV), destroying the target warhead by impact alone. In this test, the interceptor distinguished the target from three decoy balloons. (A previous test had involved only one decoy.) The test also demonstrated the complete integration of space- and ground-based sensors and radars, including a prototype of the X-band radar.
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» More stories on: Land-Based Systems, Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD)
Miller on Ground-Based System Test
Miller speculates on the likely reaction to the upcoming GBI test by missile defense detractors:
“The enemies of missile defense no doubt have prepared two separate sets of talking points for this evening’s result. If the intercept fails, they will crow about how missile defense can’t possibly be made to work. If it succeeds, they will say the test was too easy.
“In reality, tonight’s experiment is the most complicated one the Pentagon has yet conducted. Not only will the interceptor have to hit a target traveling at head-spinning speed in outer space, it will also have to distinguish its target from three balloon decoys trying to throw off its sensors. In previous tests, the interceptor has faced only a single decoy.”
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Analysis
» Missile system details for: Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI)
