Russia Fumes at US Missile Defense Plan

A Russian foreign ministry spokesperson says Russia has serious concerns about the United States plans to have missile interceptors in Romania.  According to the U.S. Ambassador to Moscow, the interceptors are not a threat to Russia and talks about the re-signing of the nuclear arms reduction treaty should continue.

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s foreign ministry says it has serious concerns about U.S. plans to deploy missile interceptors in Romania.

A ministry spokesman says Russia also was annoyed to learn about the move from the media.

He won’t comment on whether the dispute could affect talks with the U.S. on a key nuclear arms reduction treaty that expired in December.

Russia to Fire Bulava Missile From New Sub

Russian Bulava Missile being launched from a Submarine

Russia announced it plans to launch its Bulava ballistic missile from a new submarine.  The Russian defense Ministry official said that “tests will be conducted in the summer.”   The missile is intended to be fired from Russia’s newest class submarine, Yuri Dolgoruky.

Russia plans this year to launch its experimental Bulava ballistic missile from a new submarine, United News of India reported Wednesday.

“Tests will be conducted in the summer — most likely in June, from the White Sea, when it is free of ice,” one Russian Defense Ministry official told RIA Novosti.

Moscow intends to fire the nuclear-capable Bulava from the Yuri Dolgoruky, the nation’s newest Borei-class submarine. The vessel is conducting sea testing and has never launched a Bulava, which ultimately are to be deployed on the anticipated fleet of eight Borei-class submarines.

The missile has failed in seven of 12 flight tests to date, according to official figures. Certain observers say the failure rate is higher, with analyst Pavel Felgenhauer calling only one test a complete success, UNI reported.

Military officials have rejected calls to scrap the Bulava in favor of the existing Sineva missile.

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Raytheon Awarded Next-Generation Control Segment Contract (OCX)

How the GPS Control Segment (OCX) works

It was announced today that Raytheon was awarded the Next-Generation GPS Control Segment (OCX) contract.  The contract will be for 73 months and will include development and installation of hardware and software at GPS control stations at Schriever Air Force Base and Vandenberg AFB.  This system will replace the older one and provide command and control of new GPS satellites.

Officials from the Space and Missile Systems Center’s Global Positioning Systems Wing announced today the award of the Next-Generation GPS Control Segment (OCX) contract to Raytheon Company, Intelligence and Information Systems, Aurora, Colorado.

The OCX development contract will be 73 months in duration and with option years for sustainment worth $1,535,147,916. The contract will include development and installation of hardware and software at GPS control stations at Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado and Vandenberg AFB in California, deployment of advanced monitor stations at remote sites, and initial contractor support with sustainment options for five years.

OCX will replace the current GPS Operational Control System, maintaining backwards compatibility with the Block IIR and IIR-M constellation, providing command and control of the new GPS IIF and GPS III families of satellites, and enabling new modernized signal capabilities.