Hard.Copy - 26 September 1997
ARTICLE CITATIONS GATHERED FROM COMMERCIALLY PUBLISHED
JOURNALS AND NEWSLETTERS.
Conference Warns Of Conflict Of Interest In SBIRS-Low Selection.
Aerospace Daily, Sep 25, 1997, pp 459-460
The FY98 congressional defense appropriations conference report has
required the Pentagon to review a US Air Force plan for competition
for the SBIRS-Low Program to ensure that the competition is objective.
Missile Programs Masked As Space Launch Efforts Seen As Problem.
Aerospace Daily, Sep 24, 1997, p 1
This article discusses the potential problem that countries will be
able to hide ballistic missile programs under the guise of space
launched vehicle projects.
Pentagon To Spend Big On TMD Testing.
Aviation Week & Space Technology, Joseph C. Anselmo, Sep 22, 1997, p 88
BMDO officials announced they are planning to add as many as eight
flight tests to the 13 that had been scheduled through 2003. The
expanded schedule is helping mitigate concerns at BMDO that the budget
for testing the NMD system was woefully inadequate. The first NMD
flight test last June 23 was to be followed with two flight tests
annually between 1998-2003, but under a revised schedule unveiled last
week, a third flight test would be added in 2000, followed by four
tests during each of the next three years. Plans are also being made
to fly one more "backup" test in 1999 if needed.
ABL Part Of Wargame Arsenal.
BMD Monitor, Sep 19, 1997, p 313
The Air Force Airborne Laser (ABL) was used in the Summer Wargame at
the Army War College, 9/11/97 - 9/16/97. The ABL system had its
simulation debut at Roving Sands '97 and will be used again next year.
Navy Offers Prelaunch Intercept Missile Plan.
BMD Monitor, Sep 19, 1997, pp 313-314
At an industry briefing on 9/15/97 the Navy announced its plan for a
new long-range hypersonic strike missile capable of destroying mobile
theater missiles before launch. Although solely a Navy program at the
moment, the possibility of a joint program exists. The concept is
still in formation, therefore, funding and procurement levels have not
been set.
Russian Positive On ABM Treaty.
BMD Monitor, Sep 19, 1997, p 310
Russian Defense Minister Sergeyev is hopeful regarding the prospects
for signing ABM Treaty agreements during the September session of the
United Nations General Assembly.
NMD Testing Doubled.
BMD Monitor, Sep 19, 1997, pp 307-308
The National Missile Defense Joint Program Office plans to double its
Integrated System Test program. This is contingent on the program
receiving additional funding. A revised system test schedule is
included.
TMD Treat Of The Future Is The Real Concern.
BMD Monitor, Sep 19, 1997, pp 317-318
According to David Isby, an expert on missile defense, the major
problems facing TMD are future threats. Isby has identified four
motivations to use TBMs: political, military, economic and
technological.
TMD Included In Major Commands' War Plans.
BMD Monitor, Sep 19, 1997, p 317
David Isby recently spoke at a TMD seminar in the Washington, DC area.
According to Isby, TMD is being integrated into operations by DoD and
BMDO. TMD activity can be seen in recent command post and joint force
exercises, such as Roving Sands. Other command exercises were
discussed.
ABL Status: Program Satisfies Time And Schedule Rules.
BMD Monitor, Sep 19, 1997, pp 312-313
According to an update by Col Mike Booen, the Airborne Laser Program
is satisfying cost and schedule requirements. The program is currently
in the Program Definition and Risk Reduction phase. Additional
seasonal atmospheric data remains to be collected in October of this
year.
Key Commanders Play Major Roles TMD.
BMD Monitor, Sep 19, 1997, pp 316-317
According to TMD expert David Isby, the regional commanders in chief
(CinCs) will be the key operational users of TMD in future conflicts.
Tensions with TMD issues arise because the CinCs are concerned with
threats today and in the near future, while BMDO is concerned with the
present and with long term issues. The CinC Atlantic Command (ACOM)
along with the Joint Theater Air and Missile Defense Organization
(JTAMDO) and BMDO are working together to produce a Theater Air and
Missile Defense Master Plan.
Navy Theater Wide Program Turns To Sounding Rockets.
BMD Monitor, Sep 19, 1997, pp 314-315
Orbital Sciences Corporation will design a suborbital, single-stage
rocket booster to be used for the Navy Theater Wide program under a
contract from the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. Orbital
had previously performed suborbital space work for the LEAP program
managed by the Navy and BMDO.
National Defense Panel Plans To Deliver Report On Time.
Defense Daily, Bryan Bender, Sep 24, 1997, pp 499-500
Despite the fact that some National Defense Panel (NDP) members were
pushing for completing its critique of the Pentagon's Quadrennial
Defense Review (QDR) earlier than required by law in an effort to
shape the FY98 defense budget, currently being finalized, the
independent panel announced it plans to deliver its report on
December 1 as scheduled.
Air Force To Review Safety Of Nuclear Weapons, IG Official Says.
Defense Daily, Greg Caires, Sep 25, 1997, pp 506-507
The Air Force has begun a review of how the service protects it
nuclear bombs, cruise missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles
(ICBM). According to an IG official, there has not been a threat
against the weapons, but the review hopes to prevent any future
threats.
Congress Likely To Approve Defense Spending Bill This Week.
Defense Daily, Sheila Foote, Sep 24, 1997, pp 496-497
The House is expected to vote on the conference report on the FY98
Defense Appropriations Bill on September 24 and the Senate should
approve it by the end of the week, according to the chairman of the
Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill provides $247b for defense,
an increase of $3.7b over the administration's request.
Pakistani Prime Minister Boasts Of Nuclear Capability.
Defense Week, John Donnelly, Sep 22, 1997, pp 1, 13
At a rally earlier this month, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
boasted of his country's nuclear capability. Sharif's comment hints at
what has been widely reported for several years: that Pakistan
possesses more than one nuclear devise. A State Department official,
however, called the Sharif comment posturing.
Navy To Launch Antimissile Rocket.
Defense Week, John Donnelly, Sep 22, 1997, p 6
The Navy's theater air defense office said recently that the first
test of the Navy Theater Wide Tactical Ballistic Missile Defense
Program will be conducted this fall at the Pacific Missile Range
Facility in Hawaii. This is the first test in a series to demonstrate
the Standard Missile Lightweight Exoatmospheric Projectile (LEAP),
which will culminate in an eventual intercept of a ballistic missile
target.
GAO To Cohen: Delay THAAD Production.
Defense Week, John Donnelly, Sep 22, 1997, p 3
In a report entitled, "Ballistic Missile Defense: Improvements Needed
in THAAD Acquisition Planning," the General Accounting Office, GAO,
has urged SecDef Cohen not to award a $1.2b contract to Lockheed
Martin to build interceptors for the THAAD antimissile system until
testing confirms the system's effectiveness.
Two New Studies Zap Airborne Laser.
Defense Week, John Donnelly, Sep 22, 1997, pp 1, 15
Two new studies, one from Stanford University's Center for
International security and Arms Control, the other, a draft House
National Security Committee staff report, have raised serious
technical and operational questions about the Airborne Laser.
JASSM Official Calls Joint SLAM-ER A 'Catastrophe' For Warfighter.
Inside The Pentagon, Sep 25, 1997, p 15
The program manager for JASSM this week termed the Navy's preference
for the SLAM-ER an "awful decision" from the perspective of the
warfighter, as well as from a cost standpoint.
Appropriators Settle On Higher Joint Attack Missile Funding.
Inside the Pentagon, Sep 25, 1997, p 24
The FY 98 appropriations conference between the House and the Senate
settled on a figure for JASSM that was higher than the funding
provided by either chamber earlier in the mark-up process. Excerpts of
the FY98 defense appropriations conference report are included in this
special report.
Missile Tracker Work Put Out To Tender Soon.
Jane's Defence Weekly, Barbara Starr, Sep 24, 1997, p 6
Under the SBIRS Low acquisition strategy, a formal development
proposal is expected next July, with a contract award in January 1999.
The SBIRS Low's first launch is planned for 2004 with a full operating
capability of 24 satellites by 2007. One contractor will be selected
for the program, budgeted for $2b in spending from FY99 through to
FY04.
Congress: Clinton Lax On Proliferation.
Space News, Anne Eisele, Sep 22, 1997, pp 4, 20
During a House Science Committee hearing Sept. 18, Rep. Curt Weldon
(R-PA) criticized the Clinton administration for allowing Russia to
violate the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) without
consequence. Rep James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) threatened withdrawal of
congressional support for the Mir space station unless these issues of
arms control treaty violations were resolved during VP Gore's meeting
with Russian PM Chernomyrdin Sept. 22.
Europe Rethinks Strategy For Military Satellites.
Space News, Peter B. de Selding, Sep 15, 1997, pp 6, 12
France, Germany, Britain and Spain are reconsidering their options
for military telecommunications satellites in light of budget
restrictions. France still intends to pursue its Helios 2 spy
satellite.
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