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Further Reading

Hard.Copy - 16 January 1998

GAO Says More Tests Needed In NMD Program. 
Aerospace Daily, Jan 13, 1998, p 54A
According to a GAO report, the NMD program contains technical risks due
to a development schedule that allows only for limited testing. The FY98
defense appropriations bill which added extra funding to the NMD program
will be used for additional testing to reduce risk. The report also
states that one major integrated system test" will not be comprehensive
because it will not include all systems elements." 
Senate Report Blasts White House On NMD. 
Aerospace Daily, Jan 13, 1998, p 54
According to a Senate report, the Clinton Administration is not doing
enough to stop the proliferation of WMD and is jeopardizing national
security because of its indecision on NMD. 
Pentagon Officials Oppose Common TMD Interceptor. 
Aerospace Daily, Jan 13, 1998, pp 53-54
Senior Pentagon officials have rejected the idea of developing one
common interceptor for use in several different theater missile defense
systems. They did, however, support the sharing of common advanced
interceptor technology. According to a DoD memo, a common interceptor
would be disruptive to both the THAAD and Navy Theater Wide programs. 
Joint US/Russian TMD Wargame Next Week. 
Aerospace Daily, Jan 16, 1998, p 78
A US military delegation is going to Russia for a joint theater missile
defense wargame in which officers from both countries will fight side by
side to defeat a threat. 
DoD Sees Only One Russian SS-X-27 Missile Potentially Operational.
Aerospace Daily, Jan 13, 1998, p 57
DoD officials do not view the two Topol-M intercontinental ballistic
missiles as an immediate threat because one is a training missile and
the other may not be carrying a nuclear warhead. 
Washington Outlook: Going Ballistic. 
Aviation Week & Space Technology. James R. Asker, Jan 12, 1998, p 387
Iranian dissidents say Iran's Revolutionary Guard is building a small
number of 870 mile-range Shahab 3 ballistic missiles and has
successfully launched one after overcoming engine valve problems.
However, US officials say a satellite saw only the heat signature of the
missile's engine being tested (for at least the sixth time). They don't
expect a first flight until 1999. Iran is initially trying to build 15
of the 1 ton payload weapons, said to be capable of reaching Israel,
Turkey and Saudi Arabia. 
Missiles Outlook/Specifications. 
Aviation Week & Space Technology, Jan 12, 1998, pp 154-169
This chart contains world wide missile specifications including:
designation, length body diameter, launch weight, contractor, guidance
type, power plant, maximum range, and status. 
GAO: Problems In Former Topaz Program. 
BMD Monitor, Jan 09, 1998, pp 11-12
A GAO report from the Office of Special Investigations found that the
Topaz II program did not achieve the original goal of technology
transfer or defense conversion. 
AFRL Reorganization Continues, Changes In Works With BMDO. 
BMD Monitor, Jan 09, 1998, pp 1-2
The new AF Research Lab (AFRL) is up and running. According to Earl
Good, who is in charge of AFRL Directed Energy Directorate, there will
be changes in the relationship with BMDO. 
DoE Declassifies Stacks Of Nuclear Test Data. 
BMD Monitor, Jan 09, 1998, p 12
The specific yields of eleven nuclear tests, conducted for peaceful
purposes have been released by the DoE as the agency finalizes
declassification on nuclear programs. 
WEU Panel Recommends Contact With BMDO 'Forthwith'. 
BMD Monitor, Jan 09, 1998, p 5
The Technical and Aerospace Committee of the Assembly of Western
European Union recommends that the WEU establish contact with BMDO to
jointly study missile defense issues. Included is a chart with existing
missile defense programs worldwide.
French Aster Missiles Record Successful Intercepts.
BMD Monitor, Jan 09, 1998, pp 6-7
The French Aster missile made a successful high-altitude intercept of a
target for the first time on December 11, 1997. 
The Year Ahead. 
BMD Monitor, Jan 09, 1998, p 6
The year 1998 will be the busiest year yet for BMDO with tests and
activities in both TMD and NMD. This article is a schedule of these
activities with information provided by BMDO and program managers. 
Cohen Backs Defense Panel On NMD. 
BMD Monitor, Jan 09, 1998, pp 9-10
SecDef Cohen agreed with the National Defense Panel about the
uncertainty of the threat in the world of 2020. Cohen also agreed with
the NDP recommendation for the "correct path" for pursuing a NMD system.
Second Patriot PAC-3 Flyout Is A Success. 
BMD Monitor, Jan 09, 1998, p 7
The second developmental flight test of the PAC-3 was successful. The
test included demonstrating in-flight communication between the ground
system and the missile; integrating the missile with the existing
Patriot system; and collecting data to evaluate how the missile
performed. 
DoD Eyes Additional Missions For Airborne Laser. 
Defense Daily. Sheila Foote, Jan 16, 1998, p 2
The Defense Department thinks the Air Force's future Airborne Laser
(ABL) may have more uses besides destroying rogue ballistic missiles. In
a letter to SASC Chairman Strom Thurmond (R-SC), DepSecDef John Hamre
wrote, "We are studying the Airborne Laser's potential to destroy enemy
countermeasures, protect airborne high value assets, conduct imaging and
surveillance and suppress enemy air defenses."
US Should Do More To Prevent Proliferation, Cochran Says.
Defense Daily. Sheila Foote, Jan 13, 1998, p 7
Sen Thad Cochran (R-MS) released a report, "The Proliferation Primer,"
that summarized the conclusions of the Governmental Affairs Subcommittee
on International Security, Proliferation and Federal Services, following
a year of hearings. The report criticized the Clinton administration for
its reluctance to impose sanctions against Russia and China for selling
missile technologies to rogue nations. Sen Cochran said the US should
take stronger action to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction and the computer and information technologies that aid in
their development. 
NMD Program Faces Big Schedule And Technical Risks: GAO. 
Defense Daily. Greg Caires, Jan 13, 1998, p 1
An initial assessment of the Pentagon's National Missile Defense (NMD)
program shows that the Defense Department faces "significant
challenges...because of high schedule and technical risks," according to
the December 1997 General Accounting Office (GAO) report released
recently. The BMDO's NMD program focuses on developing a limited ABM
system by 2000 with the ability to deploy such a system by 2003 if the
need to do so exists. This plan is referred to as the "3+3" program. 
NDP Chairman Sees Little Change In Defense Strategy In Near Term.
Defense Daily. Bryan Bender, Jan 16, 1998, p 1
According to Phil Odeen, Chairman of the National Defense Panel (NDP) it
is unlikely that the recommendations of the Quadrennial Defense Review
(QDR) and the NDP report will create real change in the Pentagon until
after the turn of the century because of the difficulty of the Defense
Department bureaucracy to reverse course. 
Pentagon To Test National Missile Defense Sensor Tonight. 
Defense Daily. Greg Caires, Jan 15, 1998, pp 4-5
BMDO, the Army and the Air Force plan to conduct a flight test tonight
of a key National Missile Defense (NMD) sensor system. The flight will
test the sensor from Raytheon's Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV)
against a series of dummy warheads and balloons launched aboard the Air
Force's Multi-Service Launch System (MSLS). 
Lyles To Ask Congress For More Control Over BMDO Spending.
Defense Daily. Greg Caires, Jan 15, 1998, p 10
LtGen Lester Lyles, BMDO Director, concerned that nearly three quarters
of the agency's technology budget is tied to specific program earmarks,
plans to ask Congress for greater latitude in executing the technology
program. To capitalize on such latitude Lyles has chartered a Joint
Technology Board for ballistic missile defense to "look for areas where
the BMDO and the services can better coordinate their technology
efforts, share resources and leverage off one another." Lyles has also
directed his technology staff to develop a technology roadmap with the
"important goal of improving the structure and focus of the technology
program." 
Aster 30 Missile Passes Real-Target Test. 
Defense News, Jan 18, 1998, p 18
The Aster 30 ground launched medium range surface-to-air missile
successfully passed its first validation firing against a real target. 
New Threat Of Mass Destruction. 
Foreign Affairs. Richard K. Betts, Jan 01, 1998, pp 26-41
The risk of a catastrophic exchange of nuclear missiles has receded. Yet
the chances of some use of weapons of mass destruction have risen.
Chemical weapons are a lesser threat, but more likely. A vial of anthrax
dispersed over Washington could kill as many as three million.
Traditional deterrence will not stop a disgruntled group with no
identifiable address from striking out at America. The United States
must pull back from excessive foreign involvements and begin a program
of civil defense to reduce casualties in the event the unthinkable
happens. 
Weldon Says Argument With BMDO Director Lyles Was 'Nothing Personal'.
Inside Missile Defense. John Liang, Jan 07, 1998, pp 3-4
In a speech at the AUSA Space and Missile Defense Symposium on December
3, 1997, House National Security research and development subcommittee
Chairman Curt Weldon (R-PA) said there was nothing personal about the
run-in he had with BMDO Director LtGen Lyles last month after a missile
defense hearing. "Let no one in this room or nation read my frustration
and anger as a lack of support for BMDO...[or] as an attempt to
undermine one of the most dedicated people in this country, Gen Les
Lyles." 
DoD Study Says SBIRS Has Theater Missile Defense Potential.
Inside Missile Defense. John Liang, Jan 07, 1998, pp 1, 6
According to a Pentagon classified study concluded last month, DoD's
space-based, mid-course tracking system, designed for NMD, could offer
significant benefits for TMD systems, particularly the Navy Theater-Wide
program. 
Western European Union Report Urges France To Rejoin MEADS Program.
Inside Missile Defense. John Liang, Jan 07, 1998, pp 1, 12
In a report approved last month, the Western European Union called on
France to rejoin the effort to develop the MEADS and urged the UK to
consider joining as well. The report said the postponement of an
analysis of the ballistic missile threat from Western Europe's southern
flank was "merely the result of a lack of political will in Europe,
compounded by cuts in the defense budgets of practically all of our
countries." Excerpts from the report are reprinted with this article. 
Army's PAC-3 Flies Again, Paving Way For Intercept Tests In Early '98.
Inside Missile Defense. Daniel G. Dupont, Jan 07, 1998, p 11
The Army successfully flight-tested the Patriot PAC-3 missile last month
at WSRM, NM, paving the way for intercept testing scheduled to begin
early next year. 
Army Announces Plans To Expand NMD EKV Work For Hughes, Boeing. 
Inside Missile Defense. Daniel G. Dupont, Jan 07, 1998, pp 11-12
In a December 19 CBD notice, the Army's Space and Missile Defense
Command announced plans to modify existing contracts for the development
of a national missile defense Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle. 
GAO Probe Turns Up Wrongdoing, Millions Wasted In Nuclear Power Deal.
Inside Missile Defense. Gigi Whitley, Jan 07, 1998, pp 9-10
A General Accounting Office (GAO) investigation has determined that the
former SDIO, predecessor to the BMDO violated federal law as part of a
joint Air Force program to acquire and develop Russian nuclear power
technology. SDIO and the Air Force created the TOPAZ II program in 1990
to acquire Russian thermionic space nuclear reactors to help US industry
develop nuclear power as a source for long space missions. 
Sensor Testing Will Head BMDO's Project Schedule. 
Jane's Defence Weekly. Barbara Starr, Jan 14, 1998, p 8
The second test of an EKV sensor for the DoD NMD program is slated for
mid-month by the BMDO. The EKV sensor will be launched on a surrogate
interceptor from Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. A target missile
will be launched from Vandenberg AFB, CA. The test will not include an
intercept but the EKV sensor is to attempt to identify the dummy warhead
from among several decoys in outer space. Article also includes other
major BMDO milestones planned for this year. 
Setbacks To IAI Arrow-2 Missile Work Admitted. 
Jane's Defence Weekly. Ed Blanche, Jan 14, 1998, p 4
Israel Aircraft Industries' (IAI) Arrow-2 anti-tactical ballistic
missile has fallen a year behind its development schedule due to red
tape and a fire at a defense facility in April, according to Israeli
military and parliamentary officials. The fire, caused by an explosion
at an IAI plant near Tel Aviv where much of the Arrow work is conducted,
had set back the program by six to nine months. The fire caused
extensive damage worth an estimated $30m. This delay was compounded by a
dispute between IAI, the main project contractor, and the finance
ministry. 
Effects Of Launch Vehicle Emissions In The Stratosphere. Journal Of
Spacecraft And Rockets. B.B. Brady; L.R. Martin; V.I. Lang, Nov 01,
1997, pp 774-779
A plume dispersion and chemical kinetic model has been used to estimate
the total impact of motors of different propellant types on
stratospheric ozone. In previous studies, industry standard rocket motor
performance and plume flowfield computer programs were used to model the
chemistry in the rocket combustion chamber the expansion nozzle and also
in the downstream afterburning region of the plume. This model follows
the results of the plume chemistry for up to a day as the plume was
dispersed into the ambient stratosphere. Several large motor types were
analyzed: two different solid fueled motors without chlorine and one
with chlorine, and amine/nitrous oxide fueled first stage, a
kerosene/liquid oxygen fueled first stage, and an l-H2/LOX fueled engine
with two nozzle variants. 
Hypersonic Thermal Environment Of A Proposed Single-Stage-To-Orbit
Vehicle. Journal Of Spacecraft And Rockets. K. James Weilmuenster; P.A.
Gnoffo; FA. Greene; C.J. Riley; H.H. Hamilton, Nov 01, 1997, pp 697-704
The thermal environment of a representative single stage to orbit winged
body vehicle has been investigated at Mach number 21.89 and an altitude
of 233,000 feet, which corresponds to the peak heating condition on a
normal reentry trajectory. Both surface heating and temperatures are
mapped for the baseline configuration and for control surfaces both
fixed and deflected. The thermal environment is predicted for angles of
attack at 28, 32, and 36 degrees; for body flap deflections of 10 and 20
degrees; and for a matrix of tip fin parameters based on leading edge
radius and leading edge sweep angle. The analysis shows that in the
vicinity of the wing fuselage juncture and tip fin leading edge, the
localized heating can be as much as three times and temperature as much
as one-third greater than those found at the stagnation point. These
extremes are the result of shock interactions that are influenced by
vehicle aerolines and attitude, as well as the chemical state of the gas
in the flowfield. 
Methods For Distributing Semiempirical, Nonlinear, Aerodynamic Loads On
Missile Components. Journal Of Spacecraft And Rockets. F.G. Morre; R.M.
McInville; Clint Housh, Nov 01, 1997, pp 744-752
New methodology has been added to the Naval Surface Warfare Center,
Dahlgren's, Aeroprediction code to permit the distribution of the local
linear and nonlinear aerodynamic loads along the body length and over
the wind and tail lifting surfaces. The new techniques extend to 0 and
45 degree roll positions and to both windward and leeward lifting
surfaces in the 45 degree roll orientation. The local loads are
integrated to get to the distribution of the shear and bending moments
for use in structural analysis and design. Navier-Stokes computational
fluid dynamics computations for a wing-body-tail missile configuration
were used in the development of these extensions of the code and in
validating their effectiveness. In general, good agreement with total
force and moment experimental data and the computational fluid dynamics
results is obtained. 
Putting Teeth In The Biological Weapons Ban. 
MIT's Technology Review.
Jonathan B. Tucker, Jan 01, 1998, pp 38-45
Saddam Hussein's attempt to shield his deadly biological weapons
development from UN inspectors drew attention to an international
security problem that extends well beyond Iraq: biological weapons are
cheap to make and easy to hide. But enforcement of the existing treaty
would require intrusive measures that might compromise legitimate
biotech and pharmaceutical R&D. 
Ultrahigh-Intensity Lasers: Physics On The Extreme On A Tabletop.
Physics Today. Gerard A. Mourou; Christopher P.J. Barty; Michael D.
Perry, Jan 01, 1998, pp 22-28
By strengthening, amplifying, and then compressing laser pulses, one can
reach petawatt powers, gigagauss magnetic fields, terabar light
pressures, and really fast electron accelerations.