Hard.Copy - 19 December 1997
ARTICLE CITATIONS GATHERED FROM COMMERCIALLY PUBLISHED JOURNALS AND NEWSLETTERS.PAC-3 Test Fired At White Sands. Aerospace Daily, Dec 16, 1997, p 411 A Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile was successfully test fired from White Sands Missile Range. The test included a demonstration of in-flight communication between the ground system and the missile and missile integration with the existing Patriot System. Russian Policies Put Nunn-Lugar Funding At Risk, CRS Says. Aerospace Daily, Dec 16, 1997, p 413 According to a report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) many in the House were in favor of linking US assistance under the Cooperative Threat Reduction programs to a number of foreign and defense policies. Among these is Russia's compliance with arms control agreements and nuclear weapons modernization programs. CRS has concluded that as long as Russia continues to pursue programs and policies that run counter to the US, many in Congress are likely to question the net value of US assistance to Russia and other nuclear former Soviet Republics. Army Readies For Contract Award In Cruise Missile Sensor Program. Aerospace Daily, Dec 15, 1997, p 388 The US Army's Space and Strategic Defense Command plans to award a contract early next year for development of an airborne sensor platform to detect and track over-the-horizon cruise missile targets. Take Strategic Nuclear Forces Off Alert, Experts Urge. Aerospace Daily, Dec 15, 1997, pp 405-406 Three nuclear arms experts advocated taking the US and Russian strategic forces off alert. A few of the proposals are: de-alerting the 50 MX missiles of the US by removing their warheads and putting them in storage, de-alerting all silo-based missiles, including the 500 Minuteman III missiles of the US and 105 Russian SS-19 missiles that will remain under START II, downloading warheads on US submarine based missiles, and reducing readiness of 1,000 warheads on US submarines. Don't Dismiss Chinese Weapon Developments, Panelists Say. Aerospace Daily, Dec 12, 1997, pp 391-392 A panel of experts on US-China relations believe China will not be the next Soviet Union, but its fast paced military modernization, particularly in ballistic and cruise missile developments, information warfare and anti-satellite technology, should not be dismissed. Block Upgrade Approach Considered For Navy Upper Tier. Aerospace Daily, Dec 11, 1997, pp 388-389 BMDO and the Navy are considering a block upgrade approach to speed initial deployment of the Navy Upper Tier system. Raytheon Radar Would Bolster Navy's Theater Wide System. Aerospace Daily, Dec 17, 1997, pp 421-422 The US Navy plans to award Raytheon a contract to develop a high power discrimination radar to improve the performance of the Theater Wide missile defense system. Cohen Responds To National Defense Panel Report. Aerospace Daily, Dec 17, 1997, p 417 US Defense Secretary William Cohen declined an opportunity to object to the NDP's suggestion to kill some Pentagon programs. Cohen did disagree with the NDP's call to abandon the strategy of being able to fight in two regional wars at the same time. This article describes Cohen's response to the NDP report. Beyond Missiles, Directed Energy? BMD Monitor, Dec 12, 1997, pp 405-406 This story comes from the Association of United States Army Symposium on Space and Missile Defense, held Dec 2-4. This article discussed how technology is heading in the direction of directed energy. BMDO Director LtGen Lyles believes that missiles will not be eliminated from the weapons industry because of costs and the situations where missiles would still be needed. SBL program officials are evaluating options for continued R&D and plans to launch or test a readiness demonstrator in space. Although the SBL program is technically immature, it has a lot of congressional support and is heading in the right direction for future weapons technology. JTAMDO Acquisition Road Map Due In January. BMD Monitor, Dec 12, 1997, pp 406-407 The major product of the Joint Air and Missile defense Organization , an acquisition road map can be expected in January, according to BMDO Director LtGen Lyles. The map is an investment strategy for Cruise Missile Defense and sets the tone for the Program Objective memorandum. NDP Recommends Retaining Option To Deploy NMD. BMD Monitor, Dec 12, 1997, pp 413-414 The change in the threat type and degree is the primary reason for an increased emphasis on homeland defense, according to the NDP. According to the NDP report, the US will need a comprehensive approach to countering weapons of mass destruction, which starts with intelligence and includes an effective missile defense that might reduce the risk of a limited missile strike. Therefore the NDP recommends retaining the option to deploy NMD. White Sands Works On Green River Launch Proposal. BMD Monitor, Dec 12, 1997, p 422 White Sands Missile Range officials have been talking with the Army Space and Missile Defense Command Targets Office about the possible use of the Green River Launch Complex for extended testing of missile systems. According to Jim Noble, chief, range programs at White Sands the range could be suitable for targets for PAC-3, THAAD, Navy Upper Tier and possible MEADS missiles. HELSTF To Propose New Satellite Data Collection Test. BMD Monitor, Dec 12, 1997, pp 407-408 HELSTF managers will propose within a month additional data-collection tests in space to learn more about the use of high-energy lasers and satellite vulnerability, according to Col. Larry Anderson. Weldon Gives Everybody Hell On Missile Defense. BMD Monitor, Dec 12, 1997, pp 412-413 In a speech at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium, Rep Curt Weldon (R-PA), detailed his frustrations and anger over missile defense, saying it is the constitutional duty of Congress to raise and maintain an Army. Weldon claims his concerns are with changing budget numbers for programs such as THAAD, THEL, and MEADS and his frustration and anger is with the White House and with the administration. ABL Chief Refutes Details Of Recent GAO Report. BMD Monitor, Dec 12, 1997, pp 409-411 Col Michael Booen, head of the ABL Program Office, has taken on issues with the General Accounting Office, who had questions about the capabilities of the ABL program. Army Conducts Second Successful PAC-3 Test. Defense Daily. Brian Shannon, Dec 16, 1997, p 1 According to an Army statement, the service conducted the second successful test of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile at White Sands Missile Range. The flight test did not involve an intercept attempt. US Looks For Assist To Keep MEADS Going. Defense News. George L. Seffers; Brooks Tigner, Dec 15, 1997, p 10 US military officials are looking at other missile defense programs and foreign governments for funds to continue the MEADS program. Proposed MEADS Cuts Would Cost Years Of Delay. Defense Week. John Donnelly, Dec 15, 1997, p 1, 15 The proposed reductions in the five-year defense budget starting in FY2000, would cause yet another in a pattern of delays in such major missile defense programs as MEADS. The cutback could throw a wrench in the plans of Germany and Italy, the two allies now sharing development costs with the US. In Response To National Defense Panel Report: Cohen Creates 'RMA Oversight Council' To Monitor 'Transformation'. Inside the Pentagon. Douglas Berenson, Dec 18, 1997, pp 3-4 Defense Secretary William Cohen announced in his official response to the NDP report that he is creating a RMA oversight council to review the "transformation activities." BMDO Preparing For Competition In New Advanced Kill Vehicle Program. Inside the Pentagon, Dec 18, 1997, pp 7-8 BMDO is preparing to allow industry bid on a new project to develop an Advanced Kill Vehicle that could one day serve as a common interceptor for several missile defense interceptors. NATO Growth 'Increases Russian Nuclear Threat'. Jane's Defence Weekly. Barbara Starr, Dec 17, 1997, p 4 Russia's reliance on nuclear weapons as an instrument of national security is likely to increase if NATO is expanded, the US intelligence community is warning Congress. The finding comes in the latest publicly-available joint assessment by the CIA, the State Department and the DIA. In the report, the State Department said Russian was still unlikely to actually launch nuclear weapons.
