Missile Defense Test Fails
December 15, 2004 :: Reuters :: News
The Missile Defense Agency yesterday attempted the first full test of its ground based midcourse defense system, but the interceptor missile failed to leave its silo. The target interceptor successfully launched from Kodiak island, but the the interceptor based at the Kwajalein Test Range in the Marshall Islands did not. The MDA cited an unspecified “anomaly.” had caused the interceptor to shut down automatically in its silo.
The failed test will probably become a setback for missile defense efforts, less on the technical than the political level. The failure is a particular embarrassment since the technology involved has nothing to do with the actual intercept of a ballistic missile. Rather, it seems to be related to the simple launch of the missile, and is thus the kind of problem which has been worked out decades ago.
The failed test in no way diminishes, however, the need for missile defense. It does reinforce the need for increased testing and for more proficient and effective systems. But no weapon system is perfect. It is for just such reason that there should therefore be backups and layers in our defenses. (Article, Link)
» MDA press release on test attempt
» More stories on: Land-Based Systems, Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI), Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (RTS)
Airborne Laser Undergoes Flight Test
December 4, 2004 :: The Missile Defense Agency :: News
Yesterday, December 3rd, the Missile Defense Agency conducted a flight test of the Airborne laser, the first such test since December 2002. The flight took place at Edwards Air Force Base in California. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Air, Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Airborne Laser (ABL)
Successful Test of Patriot, THAAD Radar
November 18, 2004 :: The Missile Defense Agency :: News
The Missile Defense Agency today completed another successful test of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptor, at White Sands Missile Range. The test was described as “the most complex flight test scenario to date for PAC-3,” with some six missiles in the air at one time. Also of significance is that the test included the use of radar for the separate, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) ballistic missile system. Tests of THAAD are set to resume in 2005. (More »»»)
» MDA press release on PAC-3 test
» Orbital description of Storm Maneuvering Tactical Target Vehicle
» More stories on: Land-Based Systems, Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3), Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
Test Fire of Laser for ABL
November 12, 2004 :: LA Times :: News
The Missile Defense agency conducted its first ever demonstration test of the laser weapon which will be used on the developing Airborne Laser (ABL) program, announces Northrop Grumman.
The ground-based test, called “First Light,” took place on November 10 at Edwards Air Force Base, in California, and involved the a simultaneous firing of all six laser modules comprising the Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL), according to the press release. (Article, Link)
» Northrop Grumman press release
» Nov. 1: Northrop Grumman offers laser weapon to army for mortar interception
» MDA release on laser test
» More stories on: Air, High Energy Defenses, Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Airborne Laser (ABL)
MDA Launches Rocket to Test Sensors
October 6, 2004 :: The Missile Defense Agency :: News
The Missile Defense Agency recently launched a test rocket to test the tracking abilities of the emerging, and soon to be operationally deployed missile defense system. The Agency recently reported that on September 29, a suborbital rocket which launched and made to simulate a missile launched by an undisclosed “emerging threat.” The missile was launched from Wake Island and flew 606 miles with a mock warhead, a sensor package, and various missile defense-related experiments. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Testing - American, Detection and Tracking
Minuteman III Test a Success
September 16, 2004 :: News
An unarmed Minuteman III ICBM was test-launched early today from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The missile traveled some 4,200 miles to the Kwajalein missile range, also known as the Ronald Reagan Test Site, in the southern Pacific Ocean. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Testing - American
» Missile details: Minuteman III
» Missile system details for: Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (RTS)
Army Tests MLRS
September 5, 2004 :: Middle East Newsline :: News
The U.S. Army has again successfully tested the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (Guided MLRS), at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The test was said to be to improve accuracy. Versions of the system are said to have been sold to Bahrain, Egypt, Greece, Israel, and South Korea. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Testing - American
» Missile details: Guided MLRS
Patriot Test Successful: Scores Hits Against Ballistic and Cruise Missiles
September 2, 2004 :: Lockheed Martin :: News
The Patriot Advanced Capability 3 interceptor today successfully intercepted and destroyed two targets, one a short range ballistic missile, the other a cruise missile, reports a Lockheed Martin press release. The test took place at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
The ballistic missile destroyed was actually an older Patriot modified to simulate an enemy missile, called a Patriot-As-A-Target (PAAT). The other target destroyed simultaneously with the Patriot was a MQM-107D cruise missile. The PAC-3 launcher “ripple-fired” two Patriots, shortly after one another, with each going to their respective targets.
The test was described as the fifth successful “ripple-fire” of the PAC-3 missiles against ballistic missiles, including both flight testing and in combat. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Land-Based Systems, Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
Aegis System Undergoes Land Based Test
August 31, 2004 :: Lockheed Martin :: News
The Aegis sea-based missile defense system underwent a test that is being described as a significant marker to its ability to track and eventually destroy ballistic missile targets. The test took place on land at the U.S. Navy Combat System Engineering Development Site, on August 27. No actual targets were launched, but the test rather consisted of simulations in conjunction with the Ground Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system which includes the systems at Fort Greely Alaska, and the Command and Control Center in Colorado. According to a report issued by Lockheed about the test, some fifteen Aegis destroyers and three Aegis cruisers will eventually be equipped with the system within the next few years. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Sea-Based Systems, Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
Arrow Interceptor Test Successful: Scud Destroyed
July 29, 2004 :: Ha'aretz :: News
The Arrow missile defense system, jointly developed by Israel and the United States, successfully intercepted an incoming Scud missile. Both missiles were fired from locations near Los Angeles, and the interception took place over the Pacific Ocean.
The test, described as both “realistic” and “crucial,” has been planned for two years. It marks the seventh test of the full Arrow system and the twelfth test of the Arrow interceptor. The Scud was launched from a U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center at Point Magu near Los Angeles. The Arrow system’s radar, called Green Pine, directed the interceptor to its target. Although an earlier report from the Indian Express said that the U.S. Defense Department refused to say where the Scud came from, Haaretz today claimed that the Scud was confiscated from Iraq. In the previous test, in December 2003, the Arrow intercepted a Black Sparrow missile, also produced by Israel.
The Arrow has been operational in Israel since 2000, and two batteries of the missiles are currently deployed, at Ein Shemer and Palmahim. A number of other countries, such as India, are considering purchasing one or more of various competing missile defense systems, including the Arrow, the American Patriot PAC-3, and the Russian S-300 and S-400.
Originally designed to protect against Iraqi Scuds and Al Hussein missiles, the future of the Arrow for Israel will likely be to defend against potential attacks by Iran’s Shahab-3. Iran on Monday threatened to wipe Israel “off the map” if either Israel or the United States attempted to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Israel, Testing - American, Testing - Foreign
» Missile system details for: Arrow
