Joint US/Israel Missile Exercise

US Military Wants Armed Spy Bots in Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles

The problem: The US Army—purveyors of all things camouflage green— thinks that spy planes are too slow to recognize remote battlegrounds. The solution: Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles loaded with weaponized spy bots. The side-effect: World War III.

See, the US Army is right. ICBMs are the fastest way to deploy ISR-Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance-spy bots. They only take minutes to launch and reach a target anywhere in the world. Loading them with spy bots will provide with access to real-time data about any conflict area, in virtually no time:

ISR platforms delivered from missiles can potentially provide battlefield information that is only seconds old when transmitted from long ranges. This information is particularly valuable since it is so current. It provides the potential for striking a very mobile enemy before he has time to alter his position.

But then, ICBMs usually carry a much dangerous load: Nuclear warheads. You can be sure that the the Russians—or the Chinese or the North Koreans—won’t be happy about detecting an ICBM launch off Alaska. That’s exactly the reason why other similar efforts pioneered by Darpa were scrapped. The US Army boffins, however, say they have a plan to avoid the confusion: Use a different kind of ICBM.

How different that missile could be? A ballistic missile is a ballistic missile. They follow a trajectory across oceans and continents to open and drop whatever load they have, being that nukes, spy bots, or cotton candy. Then, the Army also says that they want the spy bots to be fully armed, just in case they want to strike seconds after they find the enemy.

See, that still doesn’t sound like a good idea to me. Like the old Russian proverb says: “If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, it’s a nuclear missile.” [Wired]

Senator Inouye Proposes Funding for Critical Missile Defense Test Facility

IN FOCUS:  S.AMDT.2754 – Amendment to 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill

STATUS:  Introduced in the Senate 11/9/09; Considered 11/10/09; 11/16/09

BACKGROUND: The Obama administration’s new European missile defense strategy or “Phased Adaptive Approach” relies on both sea- and ground-based SM-3 interceptors. Under the new plan the US will deploy ships with the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System, equipped with the SM-3 1B interceptors. The plan also calls for a ground-based version of the SM-3 and Aegis System.

The proposed “Aegis Ashore” facility in Kauai, Hawaii would test the ground-based system and SM-3 interceptor ahead of the President’s goal of deploying an anti-missile capability in Europe by 2015. The President’s missile defense plan also outlines developing and upgrading these same systems with SM3 Block 2A and 2B defensive missiles that would protect Europe and the United States from intermediate and long range ballistic missiles respectively by 2018 and 2020.

FACTS:

The facility would not require new funds; rather $68.5 million in funding would be re-appropriated from fiscal 2009.

The funds would be re-appropriated from canceled missile defense projects in Poland and the Czech Republic

The Pacific Range Missile Facility on Kauai has been a test center for the Aegis ballistic missile defense system for 12 years.

The test facility could also provide an operational ballistic missile defense capability when needed

Three successful SM3 Block 1B intercept tests are required before a decision will be made on deployment

IMPORTANCE:

This amendment would provide critical funding necessary to meet the goal of conducting the first flight test of the land-based SM-3 interceptor in 2012 in order to meet President Obama’s goal of deploying anti-missile capability in Europe by 2015. This facility’s role in the testing of future SM-3 Block2A and Block 2B missiles is also of importance as these are difficult technologies to develop and any delays in the development, testing and production of these interceptors will derail the timetable set forth by the administration.

This amendment will further provide missile defense protection for the Hawaiian Islands from the threat of a North Korean attack. North Korea has defied international law and conducted numerous missile tests and is on the verge of developing long-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching the Hawaiian Islands. The test launcher used at the Aegis Ashore facility could be used for testing of the SM-3 interceptors and provide continuous protection for the region.

KEY SUPPORT:

Bipartisan advocates include:  Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) Sens. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.)

“Our top priority is the establishment of an Aegis Ashore test facility which could also provide an operational ballistic missile defense capability when needed.”

-          Missile Defense Agency, Director Patrick O’Reilly

WHAT’S NEXT:

The amendment is expected to pass in the Senate; however it is unclear whether it will require approval of Senate appropriations panels or bypass approval and directly add the funds to the defense budget legislation. Senator John McCain has introduced his own amendment that would preserve funding for the test site requiring the effort to receive authorization, which may delay funding another year.

LockMart Awarded Contract For Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense

The U.S. Department of Defense’s Missile Defense Agency (MDA) awarded Lockheed Martin a $1 billion contract for continued development and evolution of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System.

Under the contract, Lockheed Martin’s Surface-Sea Based Missile Defense line of business, in Moorestown, N.J., will design, develop, integrate, test, deliver and install further Aegis BMD capability for the U.S. and allied navies.

“This contract will both continue the spiral development of Aegis BMD capability to meet expanding global security threats and increase the number of BMD-capable ships at sea by integrating Aegis BMD into the Aegis Modernization program,” explained Orlando Carvalho, vice president and general manager of the Lockheed Martin business completing the work.

“This further supports the increasing demand for Aegis BMD capability worldwide, especially in light of the Administration’s recent shift in policy in European Missile Defense.”

Currently, a total of 21 Aegis BMD-equipped warships – 19 in the U.S. Navy and two in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force – have the certified capability to engage ballistic missiles and perform long-range surveillance and tracking missions. The U.S. Navy is modifying two additional U.S. East Coast-based Aegis-equipped ships to perform ballistic missile defense.

The Aegis Weapon System is the world’s premier naval defense system and the sea-based element of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Its precision SPY-1 radar and integrated command and control system seamlessly guides the interceptor and uplinks target track information to the missile for terminal homing.

Its ability to detect, track and engage targets ranging from sea-skimming cruise missiles to ballistic missiles in space is proven. The Aegis BMD Weapon System also integrates with the BMDS, receiving track data from and providing track information to other BMDS elements.

The 92 Aegis-equipped ships currently in service around the globe have more than 950 years of at-sea operational experience and have launched more than 3,500 missiles in tests and real-world operations. In addition to the U.S., Aegis is the maritime weapon system of choice for Australia, Japan, Norway, South Korea and Spain.

Lockheed Martin is a world leader in systems integration and the development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, including the first operational hit-to-kill missile defense system, Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3). It also has considerable experience in interceptor systems, kill vehicles, battle management command, control and communications, precision pointing and tracking optics, as well as radar and other sensors that enable signal processing and data fusion.

The company makes significant contributions to nearly all major U.S. Missile Defense Systems and participates in several global missile defense partnerships.

Source:

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/LockMart_Awarded_Contract_For_Aegis_Ballistic_Missile_Defense_999.html

US-Japanese SM3-Block 1A Missile Test

 

Additional Pictures of the Test:

‘David Gets Some High-Tech Help in His Battle with Goliath’

Raytheon recieved 2 contracts from Rafael worth more than $100 million to build DSWS components to develop a missile defense system called David’s Sling Weapon System (DSWS) which will be  designed to defeat short-range ballistic missiles, large-caliber rockets and cruise missiles in their terminal phase of flight. It will be a  joint program between the US Missile Defense Agency and the Israel Missile Defense Organization.

For more information: http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/

What has North Korea been up to?

With the focus on Iran and their LEU brokering, have we been keeping an eye on North Korea?  Here’s a headline from 10/26/09:

“NKorea completes launch site for larger missiles“

 FYI- Officials from South Korea have stated that this new WEST COAST site is capable of launching ICBMs and is ‘as good as finished’.   This new base, called ’Dongchang-ri’ is bigger than the Musudan-ri site on the EAST COAST where the North launched long-range missiles in 1998, 2006 and April this year.

 This is one step closer in the WRONG direction. Need I say more…..

 

For more information:

http://www.spacewar.com

Israel & U.S start ‘Juniper Cobra’ air defense tests

Israel and the United States kicked off Wednesday a major air defense exercise that will simulate a missile attack on Israel.

Code-named Juniper Cobra, the two-week exercise is the largest drill ever between the two countries.

Israeli public radio said the U.S. personnel were set to mesh ground- and ship-based missile interceptors like the Aegis, THAAD and Patriot with Israel’s Arrow II ballistic shield. Both nations have denied any connection between the air defense drill and heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear program.

Still, Israel radio quoted an unnamed commander as saying that the exercise “served to prepare for a nuclear Iran.”

During the two-week exercise, U.S. forces will be deployed to a number of locations in Israel, within the vicinity of civilian areas. The joint exercise will simulate long-range missile attacks on Israel from Iran, Syria and Lebanon. The war drill will test the two countries’ missile defense systems, testing technology that could be used to shield Israel from a potential Iran attack.

In all, a total of 17 U.S. warships have been deployed, equipped with special radar systems capable of detecting surface-to-surface missiles for the exercise.

Israeli media reported that the drill will also include the use of X-band radar technology used to spot incoming missiles from miles away.

For more information:

http://www.spacewar.com

THAAD Activation

Israel joins US for defence drill

Israel and the US are due to begin a two-week military defence exercise, thought to be the largest of its kind in Israel’s history.

The exercise will focus on providing a joint defence against a simulated co-ordinated missile attack on Israel. Up to 2,000 joint military personnel are believed to be taking part, along with at least 15 American ships. The Israeli army said the exercise was not a “response to any world events” but had been planned for a while. It is thought that a highly sophisticated new American radar, based in the Israeli desert, will be central to the exercise.

Two-fold significance

The simulation will involve elements such as barrage of missiles fired on Israel from all points south, east and north. The BBC’s Middle East correspondent Tim Franks said many observers inside Israel believed the exercise carried a two-fold significance. This included sending a message of deterrence to any would-be attackers of Israel – whether they were in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria or Iran.

It was also possibly an attempt to reassure Israel’s people that the US took the country’s security seriously – especially at a time when the US has expressed increasing concern about Iran’s nuclear programme, although Tehran insists it is purely peaceful. Analysts say use the manoeuvres could also serve to make Israel feel more secure, and therefore encourage a return to Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

Last week, Turkey, one of the few Muslim countries with whom Israel has had good contacts, cancelled a joint air force exercise with Israel. Israel, Turkey and the US countries took part in a joint exercise in the Mediterranean Sea, off Haifa last year. Tim Franks said Turkish-Israeli relations have become strained this year, since Turkey heavily criticised Israel’s war in Gaza.

The exercise, which is entitled Juniper Cobra, is due to finish on 5 November.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8317919.stm