Hard.Copy - 05 September 1997
ARTICLE CITATIONS GATHERED FROM COMMERCIALLY PUBLISHED
JOURNALS AND NEWSLETTERS.
Hughes Demonstrates Ovalized AMRAAM Motor.
Aerospace Daily, Sep 02, 1997, p 328
Hughes Aircraft, along with Raufoss Technology and Alliant Tech
systems, has demonstrated an ovalized rocket motor for the AMRAAM
which could boost the performance in air-to-air and air-to-ground
modes.
Air Force Assesses High Energy Laser Options For SBL Program.
Aerospace Daily, Sep 02, 1997, p 326
The AF intends to use an Alpha hydrogen laser for the SBL development
program, but has not ruled out other high energy laser options.
USAF, In New Program, Would Jam Tracking Radar, Not Missile.
Aerospace Daily, Sep 03, 1997, p 338
The USAF plans to invest about $1.5m in a program to counter some
enemy surface-to-air missile threats by jamming the tracking radar
rather than the missile.
US Navy Wants To Pursue New Tactical Tomahawk.
Aerospace Daily, Sep 03, 1997, p 334
The Navy is asking Congress to approve a plan to develop and build a
new tactical Tomahawk cruise missile that will replace the Tomahawk
Block IV program.
Tactical Tomahawk Would Be Able To Loiter Over Target Area.
Aerospace Daily, Sep 04, 1997, p 346
The Tactical Tomahawk that the Navy would like to pursue would feature
in-flight retargeting which would allow the missile to loiter over a
target for up to two hours before committing to an attack.
Air Launched Targets Sought For TMD Tests.
Aerospace Daily, Sep 02, 1997, p 332
The AF Space and Missile Systems Center's launch test program has
released a RFP for the Long Range Air Launched Target (LRALT) program.
The LRALT program will provide air-launched ballistic boosters to
support TMD.
Darkstar Flight Testing To Resume In December.
Aerospace Daily, Sep 02, 1997, p 331
The Darkstar low-observable high altitude endurance UAV is expected to
resume its flight test program in December.
NMD Sensor Test Successful.
Arms Control Today, Jun 01, 1997, p 28
After several aborted tests and other delays, BMDO conducted the first
flight test of an exoatmospheric kill vehicle sensor for NMD. The
test's objective was to assess the ability of the sensor to track and
identify objects in outer space.
Chronology Of US-Soviet-CIS Nuclear Relations.
Arms Control Today, Jun 01, 1997, pp 29-30
This article is a chronology of key developments in nuclear relations
between the US and the former Soviet Union since 1994.
Indian, Pakistani Missile Activities Accelerate
As Bilateral Talks Continue.
Arms Control Today, Howard Diamond, Jun 01, 1997, p 24
India recently moved a number of its Prithvi short-range ballistic
missiles near its border with Pakistan and started a new round of
missile related activities.
Space Warfare Center Aims To Be 'Nellis of Space'.
Aviation Week & Space Technology,
William B. Scott, Sep 01, 1997, pp 49-51
During the last two years, the SWC has assumed a diverse set of
missions, but now parallels the activities of other military warfare
centers. Specifically, its leaders have been charged with developing
SWC into the "Nellis of Space" by doing what is necessary to integrate
air and space operations. That means developing space tactics, crew
manuals and training courses for USAF personnel who use space derived
information to enhance combat mission effectiveness, as articulated
in Multi Command Manual MCM 3-1.
USAF Space Battlelab Assessing New Concepts.
Aviation Week & Space Technology,
William B. Scott, Sep 01, 1997, pp 51-52
The Air Force Space Battlelab will focus on innovative space
operations and logistics concepts, quantify their potential for
helping the Air Force fulfill its "core competencies," then test the
concept in operational situations. This evaluation phase will rely on
modeling and simulation, as well as field-level prototyping and
trials. Battlelab's homepage: www.fafb.af.mil/swc/battlelab.
Washington Outlook: Modern Missiles.
Aviation Week & Space Technology. James R. Asker, Sep 01, 1997, p 21
Russia's new single warhead SS-27 ICBM (Topol-M) is ready to enter
production and scheduled for deployment by the end of the year,
according to the Arms Control Assn. The US-based, private research
outfit says the mobile and silo-based SS-27 made its fourth flight
test in early July. An upgrade of the SS-25, the SS-27 would become
the centerpiece of Russia's ICBM nuclear arsenal, replacing the 10
warhead SS-18s that would be eliminated under the START 2 treaty.
'Milspace' Maturing Into Warfighter Roles.
Aviation Week & Space Technology,
William B. Scott, Sep 01, 1997, pp 46-48
"There was a time when, if you said 'space weapons,' you were so
politically incorrect you were forever condemned," said GEN Howell M.
Estes, 3rd, today's commander-in-chief of US Space Command. "But now,
people talk about it...and it's accepted that we should be pursuing
enabling technologies so we're better prepared [if] and when the
threat materializes." Technology and cost reductions that enable
operations such as "launch on demand" is being explored by the
Pentagon's Space Architect----are central to the idea of space
weapons being deployed.
News Breaks: The Ballistic Missile Defense.
Aviation Week & Space Technology, Sep 01, 1997, p 19
The BMDO has delayed the fifth test of the THAAD anti-missile system
from December to an unspecified date in early 1998. The delay was
ordered to replace an inertial measurement unit that was giving
abnormal readings.
Australia, US Eye Future TMD Links.
Defense New, George Ferguson, Sep 02, 1997, pp 1, 26
US and Australian scientists will test the ability of the Jindalee
radar to detect missile launches. These tests could eventually lead to
a larger joint project to link Australian sensors to US satellites and
missile detection networks.
Nuclear Industry Fusion? ICBM Contract
May Narrow Field Of Rocket Firms.
Defense News, Jeff Erlich, Sep 02, 1997, pp 1, 27
Although the US no longer makes ICBMs, six major companies continue to
maintain the 500 Minuteman II and 50 Peacekeeper ICBMs. A
consolidation of these separate efforts to a prime contractor would be
worth about $800m a year. This work would include general maintenance,
engine and guidance system replacement, and system integration. The
field for this contract has narrowed to two major companies TRW Inc.
and Alliant Techsystems Inc. and the winner would maintain all the
ICBMs and possibly even retire the Peacekeepers if Russia's parliament
agrees to the START II.
Israel's Arrow Missile Fails To Intercept Target In Third Test.
Inside Missile Defense, Daniel G. Dupont & John Liang, Aug 27, 1997, p 31
After two successful intercept attempts, the Arrow 2 test program had
a setback recently when an August 20 test went awry. The Arrow 2, a
smaller version of the earlier Arrow 1 missile, is intended for
Israel's NMD program
Lead System Integrator Request For Proposals
Requires Two Booster Options.
Inside Missile Defense, John Liang, Aug 27, 1997, pp 1, 22
The recently released final version of the National Missile Defense
lead systems integrator (LSI) request for proposals specifies that
competitors offer two possible booster alternatives--one using the air
Force's Minuteman rocket and the other a commercial booster. The
language in the RFP leaves open the question as to whether the BMDO
may require the two companies competing for the NMD LSI contract to
factor in the original acquisition costs of Minuteman ICBM boosters
that have been converted to serve as interceptors. This article
contains a copy of the NMD RFP.
BMDO May Count Minuteman Acqu;isition Cost In NMD Competition.
Inside Missile Defense, Elaine M. Grossman, Aug 27, 1997, pp 27-28
BMDO has signaled it may take into account the original costs of
Minuteman ICBM boosters "recycled" into propulsion systems for NMD
interceptors, when the ICBM parts are included in a design competing
against boosters that would be newly built to power NMD interceptors,
according to defense officials. The move could portend a serious
setback for the Air Force, which has long held that the ICBM boosters
could save DoD considerable funds. The Army has resisted using the
Minutemans, preferring instead to invest in a commercial booster.
Former SecDef Rumsfeld To Chair Commission To Assess Missile Threats.
Inside Missile Defense, Daniel G. Dupont, Aug 27, 1997, pp 1, 20
CIA Director George Tenet has appointed former SecDef Donald Rumsfeld
to chair a congressionally mandated commission that will study the
ballistic missile threat to the United States. Tenet named Rumsfeld
and eight other members to the commission created by the 1997 Defense
Authorization Act.
USAF Looks Favorably On Canceled Rivet Joint Technology Transfer.
Inside Missile Defense, Gigi Whitley, Aug 27, 1997, pp 13-14
The promise of congressional funding has resuscitated the Air Force's
plan to pursue equipping Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft with the
Theater Airborne Warning system--an effort DoD officials canceled
earlier this year. Known as the Rivet Joint Technology Transfer, the
project would migrate an improved medium-wave infrared array sensor
from Cobra Ball to Rivet Joint and fuse the MIRA sensor with data from
the space-based Defense Support Program.
Second Draft Of Air And Missile Defense Plan To Be Ready By October.
Inside Missile Defense, John Liang, Aug 27, 1997, pp 3-4
The second draft of the Joint Theater Air and Missile Defense Master
Plan is due to be completed by October. As the nascent JTAMDO works
with US Atlantic Command officials and other commanders-in-chief to
define joint requirements for theater air and missile defense, system
interoperability is turning out to be a "critical part" of TMAD,
according to a senior Joint Staff official.
BMDO Releases Proposal Request For Long Range Air Launch Target.
Inside Missile Defense, John Liang, Aug 27, 1997, pp 5-6
In August, BMDO released a request for proposals to build a Long Range
Air Launch Target to test upper tier theater missile defense systems.
The launch vehicle is supposed to have a range of 3,500k, according to
the system's statement of objectives. A copy of the statement of
objectives for the long range air launch target is included in this
article.
Atlantic Command Plays Key Role In Identifying Missile Defense Needs.
Inside the Pentagon, Elaine M. Grossman, Sep 04, 1997, pp 2-3
USACOM is taking the lead in designing the capstone requirements
document for an integrated theater defense architecture to protect US
forces from ballistic and cruise missile threats.
Syria To Make Chemical Bomblets For 'Scud Cs'.
Jane's Defence Weekly. Paul Beaver, Sep 03, 1997, p 3
According to BMDO officials, Syria will begin producing chemical
bomblets for Scud C ballistic missiles "within months" at a chemical
agent production line set up near Damascus. The Syrian chemical
production plant, although not publicly identified, is co-located with
the Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche Scientifique (CERS), according to
Israeli intelligence. The bomblets can be loaded as cargo into the
884mm warhead compartment of the missile to create a cluster warhead.
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