The first ground-based interceptor is lowered into
its silo at the missile defense complex at Fort Greely, Alaska, July
22. The interceptor is designed to destroy incoming intercontinental
ballistic missiles before they reach U.S. airspace. |
Army Maj. Gen. John W. Holly said the emplacement of the interceptor
"marks the end of an era where we have not been able to defend our
country against long-range ballistic missile attacks." He is the
director for the Missile Defense Agency's Ground-based Midcourse
Defense Joint Program Office.
Holly noted there are countries that possess weapons of mass
destruction and have the ability to launch ballistic missiles that
could impact the United States.
The Alaska interceptor emplacement took place the same day that the
House and Senate approved the $417 billion fiscal 2005 DoD budget.
About $10 billion of that money goes for missile defense. The defense
authorization bill now goes to President Bush for signature.
Missile Defense Agency spokesman Chris Taylor said up to five more
interceptors will be emplaced at Fort Greely, located 100 miles from
Fairbanks, by the end of 2004. The agency hopes to have up to 10 more
interceptors emplaced by the end of 2005, he added.
The July 22 event signaled the first interceptor in the ground for the Missile
Defense Agency, the outcome of President Bush's December 2002 directive that
the secretary of defense provide an initial capability in 2004. The system was
developed in response to a near-term ballistic missile threat to the United
States, deployed forces and allied countries.
The emplacement of the first GBI does not mean the missile defense system is
operational, according to an MDA release. This will happen after more
interceptors are emplaced and the interconnected architecture of radars,
sensors, battle management and command, control and communications is
activated.
In December 2001, President Bush gave Russia six months' notice that
the United States was withdrawing from its ABM treaty in order to
pursue an anti-ballistic missile system.
DoD's initial plan for a missile defense capability called for up to
20 ground-based interceptors capable of intercepting and destroying
intercontinental ballistic missiles during the midcourse phase of
flight, a period that offers the greatest opportunity for a "hit to
kill."
In addition to those planned for Fort Greely, another four are slated
for Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., by 2005.
Also, the plan calls for sea-based interceptors to be employed on
existing Navy Aegis-class ships for a shoot-down capability against
short- and medium-range ballistic missiles threatening the United
States.
Up to 15 Aegis-class destroyers and three cruisers will be equipped
with a long-range surveillance and tracking capability by the end of
calendar 2006. The cruisers will also have the capability of shooting
down potential enemy threats with the Standard Missile-3.
The department also seeks to deploy air-transportable Patriot
Advanced Capability-3 systems as another means to stop short- and
medium-range missiles.
The plans also calls for targeting incoming missiles by using land-,
sea- and space-based sensors and existing early-warning satellites,
as well as upgraded radar now located at Shemya, Alaska. By the end
of calendar year 2005, a sea-based x-band radar will also be in place
at Adak, Alaska.
In addition, DoD requested that the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of
Denmark upgrade early-warning radars on their territory.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jul2004/n07232004_2004072304.html
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