Lockheed Martin Team Receives Recognition From Missile Defense Agency for Satellite Shoot-Down

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) recognized the team of Lockheed Martin engineers who played a significant role in the successful destruction of an errant United States satellite in 2008, preventing it from an uncontrolled and unpredictable reentry and potential crash to Earth.

“The success of this effort was a direct result of the enduring partnership between our engineers and our customers,” said Orlando Carvalho, president of Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems and Sensors business unit. “The tremendous adaptability of the Aegis Weapon System, especially our SPY-1D radar, allowed us to perform flawlessly in the execution of this new mission.”

Romania Defends Role in U.S. Missile Shield

Romania is defending its involvement in the United States missile defense plans in Europe. The plans include stationing 24 land-based interceptor missiles, SM-3′s are the planned system. While the Russian’s see this as upsetting the balance and an intrusion on their sphere of influence by the U.S., the Romania government claims “the deal will make the region more secure.”

When George W Bush was US president, his missile defense plan proposed interceptor missiles in Poland, coupled with a new radar in the Czech Republic.

President Barack Obama won rare praise from Moscow for scrapping that plan, which the Russians suspected was aimed against them.

But the thaw did not last long. Last September, Washington announced what it called the Phased Adaptive Approach (PAA) to missile defense.

This new system would start by stationing missile defense assets in south-east Europe, and slowly spread its web to the center and finally the north.

Singapore “to get Israel’s Iron Dome”

Singapore is going to be receiving Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system in the future. While no specific date has been set for delivery, the system will be field-tested in Israel and shipped to Singapore. The Iron Dome was developed with some funding from Singapore and the United States. The system will be used to protect one of the most valuable ports in the world.

Singapore is reported to be acquiring Israel’s new Iron Dome anti-missile air-defense system under a once-secret military cooperation pact with the Jewish state that dates to the 1960s.

Indeed, according to the Paris Intelligence Online Web site, Singapore helped finance the development of the system by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.