HARDCOPY CURRENT CONTENTS
Arrow 2 In Test Success Despite Warhead Failure.
Aerospace Daily, Mar 12, 1997, p 373
Israel's Arrow 2 theater ballistic missile interceptor destroyed a target missile in a test, even though its warhead failed to arm.
USAF Now Sees SBIRS-Low EMD Choice In FY00.
Aerospace Daily, Mar 10, 1997, p 362
The Pentagon's decision to launch it first Space Based Infrared System Low in Fiscal 2004 means the choice between teams led by TRW and Boeing won't take place until FY00.
Administration's NMD Strategy "High Risk," Says BMDO Director.
Aerospace Daily, Mar 03, 1997, p 320
The Clinton Administration's "three-plus-three" National Missile Defense strategy of three years to develop and three to deploy is "very tough" and "very high risk" the new director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization told the Senate Armed Service Committee.
THAAD Again Fails To Intercept Target.
Aerospace Daily, Mar 07, 1997, p 347,349
The Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile systems failed for the fourth time to intercept a target, raising questions about the future of the program. THAAD must achieve three successful intercepts before the Pentagon will allow it to enter engineering and manufacturing development.
BMDO Chief Questions Lockheed Martin Reliability On THAAD.
Aerospace Daily, Mar 13, 1997, p 379, 380
The cause of the failure of the THAAD anti-missile system to hit a target in four tries may lie with prime contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. The most recent failure of the Theater High Altitude Area Defense system came in a March 6 test at White Sands Missile Range, NM, US Army Missile Command.
Army May Ask BMDO To Study Second Source For THAAD.
Aerospace Daily, Mar 12, 1997, p 371, 373
The US Army is considering asking the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization to look at a second source for the Lockheed Martin Theater High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) missile, which has failed to intercept a missile in four tries.
'Theater Wide' Missile Defense Appealing, Controversial, Difficult.
Aviation Week & Space Technology. Michael A. Dornheim, Mar 03, 1997, p 62-63
The Navy's proposed "Theater Wide" missile defense faces a difficult challenge to meet performance goals while making best use of the Standard Missile design and launch tubes. The goal of the current flight demonstration program is to have a 3.5 km/sec flyout speed. The service hopes that future weight reductions in the third stage and KV will allow more propellant to achieve a 4-4.5 km/sec speed.
Battle Management Critical For Theater Level Defense.
Aviation Week & Space Technology. David Hughes, Mar 03, 1997, p 60
One key aim of the BMC3 effort is to make sure that all the users of the network get the same picture. "We have to have a consistent tactical picture, and we have got to make sure that all of the individual elements [combat units] and the commanders at various levels have the same view of what is going on in the theater and the same view of what threats there are to deal with....And the goal is to provide that same capability to 'plug and fight' with any combination of these individual systems," said USAF Col James H. Young, director of system integration and BMC3 at BMDO.
Boost Phase Intercept Key To ABL Deterrent.
Aviation Week & Space Technology. Paul Proctor, Mar 03, 1997, p 67
Despite its contract win, Boeing and its "Team ABL" partners will have to pass two tough "Authority to Proceed" milestones in June, 1998, and about August, 2001, respectively. Major requirements for the first ATP include a ground demonstration of the flight-weight laser. The second ATP essentially verifies readiness to start flight test. That hurdle passed, the team will be able to order its second 747-400F, intended for use in a subsequent, yet unfunded, EMD phase.
THAAD Program Future Tied To Test Results.
Aviation Week & Space Technology. Michael A. Dornheim, Mar 03, 1997, p 64-65
THAAD operates both in the "upper tier" vacuum of space, up to about 150 km (49,000 ft) altitude, and in the upper fringes of the atmosphere, down to about 40 km (130,000 ft), as limited by heating of its infrared seeker.
THAAD is designed to be effective against ballistic missiles with ranges up to 3,500 km (2,200 mi). The THAAD flyout speed is 2-2.5 km/sec and maximum intercept range is about 200 km.
Russian SA-12, SA-10 On World ATBM Market.
Aviation Week & Space Technology. Nikolay Novichkov, Michael A. Dornheim, Mar 03, 1997, p 59
The Russian Antey Corp.'s S-300V, also known by its NATO designation of SA-12A/B Gladiator/Giant, is a main contender in the worldwide competition to sell ballistic missile defense systems. The S-300V system has two types of interceptors. Type 1 (SA-12B Giant) is the larger one and has a top speed of 2.4 km/sec and can engage missiles and aircraft from 13-100 km range at altitudes of 3,300-98,000 ft. Type 2 (SA-12A Gladiator) has a top speed of 1.7 km/sec and is optimized against aircraft maneuvering up to 7-8g at shorter ranges of 6-75 km and altitudes of 25-25,000 meters.
JTAGS To Expedite Space Based Warning.
Aviation Week & Space Technology. David Hughes, Mar 03, 1997, p 61
Each JTAGS unit will have three downlink antennas with 8 ft diameter dishes to provide data from three different DSP satellites. The data will be fused together and fed into a processing and communications unit housed in a standard 8 X 8 X 20 ft shelter that employs a Silicon Graphic Onyx computer. The Onyx then processes the information and passes data on launch point and impact point to Indigo computers for additional display processing such as adding earth maps. Communications of the data to theater commanders and ATBM batteries will be accomplished over JTIDS and TIBS, among others. Fire units will be able to point radars in the right direction to acquire and engage targets early.
Marines Ready Hawk For Antimissile Role.
Aviation Week & Space Technology. David Hughes, Mar 03, 1997, p 65-66
The objective of Hawk ATBM capability is to provide a point defense against short range missiles such as Frogs, SS-21s and short range Scuds. Hawk will not be able to engage longer range missiles such as Scuds that fly 500 km. or more. Article contains a chart listing Hawk anti-tactical ballistic missile flight test results.
Interoperability Aids MEADS, Also Important To DoD's Future.
BMD Monitor, Mar 07, 1997, p 77-78
According to Robert Bruce, one of two Armaments Cooperation directors in the office of the Undersecretary of Defense (A&T), interoperability is a way to share tactics, techniques, doctrine, systems and equipment in the era of coalition warfare. Bruce used MEADS as an example of interoperability. The US partnership with Germany and Italy is to design and develop one system that meets the specific needs of the three countries.
Interoperability Critical For Joint TMD Battle Management.
BMD Monitor, Mar 07, 1997, p 78
In testimony prepared for the Senate Armed Services subcommittee on strategic forces, LtGen Lyles, BMDO director, said that interoperability in BMC3I is essential for joint TMD operations. To make sure that these functions are built into TMD systems, part of BMDO's realignment includes the office of Architecture/Engineering.
THAAD Radar Now Two-For-Two.
BMD Monitor, Mar 07, 1997, p 86-87
The new THAAD User Operational Evaluation System radar was successfully tested by BMDO and the Army at Kwajalein Missile Range on February 28. The radar was the primary sensor, collecting information on a TBM representative target, and was the only part of the THAAD system involved in the test.
Arsenal Ship Raises Command, Budget Questions.
BMD Monitor, Feb 07, 1997, p 43-44
The Navy's Arsenal Ship program is considered a major platform for TMD; however, funding to outfit the necessary missile handling equipment has not been budgeted by any agency.
THAAD Investigation To Revisit Design, Requirement, Lyles Says.
Defense Daily. Sheila Foote, Mar 13, 1997, p 390
In testimony before the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, LtGen Lyles, BMDO's director, said a team, headed by Army BrigGen Montgomery, investigating the failures of the Army's THAAD system, will reexamine the entire program, from the system's design to its military requirement.
US-Israeli Arrow Program Conducts Successful Intercept Test.
Defense Daily, Mar 12, 1997, p 385
The joint US-Israeli Arrow II anti-tactical ballistic missile yesterday conducted a successful intercept test in Israel, the Army announced. This is the Arrow II system's fourth consecutive successful intercept test.
Thurmond 'Concerned' About Nuclear Weapons Proposal.
Defense Daily. Sheila Foote, Mar 14, 1997, p 402-403
Air Force Gen Habiger, head of the US Strategic Command, responded to Sen Thurmond's (R-SC) concern over reports that the US may propose to Russia in the upcoming summit further reductions in strategic nuclear weapons beyond those agreed to in the START II, saying that his command had in the last nine months analyzed a range of options for reducing strategic forces further. But he said he was not aware of any "concrete" decision to propose more reductions.
Army May Seek Second THAAD Missile Supplier.
Defense Daily. Greg Caires, Mar 12, 1997, p 381
In the wake of last week's THAAD missile intercept failure, Army LTG Hite, military deputy to service acquisition chief Gilbert Decker, told the HNSC's research and development and procurement panels, "We are considering an option to look for a second source who can produce THAAD missiles." Raytheon is viewed by many service and industry officials as a likely bidder. THAAD is currently being developed by a team led by prime contractor Lockheed Martin.
Industry Base Too Small For Second THAAD Team, Decker Says.
Defense Daily. Greg Caires, Mar 14, 1997, p 400-401
In the wake of four failed intercept tests, one option under consideration was looking for a second contractor to produce THAAD. But Army acquisition chief Gilbert Decker told the House Appropriations Committee's national security panel, "If there was another base of talent someplace in a company not already involved with THAAD's development, then we would probably want to bring them in... but we don't have that so we've got to get the program fixed."
Use Summit To Reduce Warheads.
Defense News, Mar 10, 1997, p 39, 40
When Russian President Boris Yeltsin and US President Bill Clinton meet March 20-21, they are likely to agree on common ground for negotiating a third Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) either to replace or complement the START II, which Russia has not ratified.
Russians Barter Antimissile Work For Larger NATO.
Defense News. Jeff Erlich, Mar 03, 1997, p 1, 28
Russia wants its design bureaus and contractors to be involved in co-developing theater missile defense TMD capabilities with NATO, Russian and NATO sources. The Russia-NATO charter could include an agreement on industrial cooperation but is unlikely to address specifically theater missile defense.
Fourth THAAD Intercept Failure May Stall Program.
Defense News, Mar 10, 1997, p 12
The intercept record of zero hits and four misses compiled by the US Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile could cause a delay in the program.
UK Choice On Missile Defense Appears Years Off.
Defense Week. John Donnelly, Mar 14, 1997, p 16
Great Britain is probably at least two years away from deciding whether and how to defend itself from an emerging ballistic missile threat. In fact, some experts say the UK may decide not to field even a battlefield anti-missile shield, if Britain believes it is likely to fight alongside US forces equipped with Patriot, Navy Area Wide or the mobile MEADS systems.
DoD, Industry Officials Meet To Review High Altitude Component Of SBIRS.
Inside Missile Defense. John Liang, Mar 12, 1997, p 1, 16-17
At a meeting between DoD officials and defense industry representatives to review the high-altitude component of the Air Force's Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS High) the focus will be on a report prepared by the SBIRS contractor that examines whether the system, as currently configured, will provide enough early warning of a ballistic missile attack.
BMDO's Mid-Course Space Experiment Tracks Medium-Range Missiles.
Inside Missile Defense, Mar 12, 1997, p 6
The BMDO's mid-course space experiment (MSX) satellite successfully tracked a pair of medium-range missiles last month. MSX is the first system demonstration in space of technology intended to identify and track ballistic missile signatures during the midcourse phase of flight.
GOP Lawmaker Accuses DoD Of Playing Games With Missile Defense Budget.
Inside Missile Defense. John Liang, Mar 12, 1997, p 11-12
In the wake of the BMDO's recent decision to shift procurement responsibility to the services, Rep Weldon (R-PA) has accused DoD of counting theater missile defense (TMD) money in the services' accounts as part of the BMDO budget to make TMD funding look larger than it really is.
Pentagon Review Of Latest THAAD Failure, 'State of Technology' Under Way.
Inside Missile Defense. Daniel Dupont, Mar 12, 1997, p 1, 14-15
The Defense Department has begun a review of why the THAAD missile system recently failed for the fourth time in four attempts to intercept a target missile. The flight failure analysis will also encompass the state of the THAAD program in general, focusing on the readiness of the technology for this stage in the program and on "quality control" issues.
New Study Concludes US NMD, ABM Treaty Requirements Can Coexist.
Inside Missile Defense. John Liang, Mar 12, 1997, p 1, 15-16
A joint US-Russian study, "Cold Peace or Cooperation?: The Potential for US-Russian Accommodation on Missile Defense and the ABM Treaty," to be published in the Spring issue of the journal "Cooperative Strategy," concludes that pursuit of a US national missile defense system need not undermine Russia's deterrence requirements and is gaining new high-level supporters in both the US and Russia.
Lawmakers Contend NMD Strategy Will Delay System By A Year Or More.
Inside Missile Defense. Daniel Dupont, Mar 12, 1997, p 4-6
Sen Shelby (R-AL) joined by Sen Sessions (R-AL) wrote a letter to SecDef Cohen stating his opposition to the National Missile Defense (NMD) Lead System Integrator (LSI) competition. He stated his concern that current plans for an LSI and an NMD joint program office will delay the fielding of the system by at least a year.
Services Search For Way To Reduce Costs Of Missile Defense Targets.
Inside Missile Defense. John Liang, Mar 12, 1997, p 2
A team of Army, Air Force and Navy personnel based at the Army's Space and Strategic Defense Command is currently looking at the Defense Department's targeting requirements to try to find ways of reducing the cost of ballistic missile targets, BMDO director LtGen Lyles told Congress last week.
DoD Study Considers US Responses To Chinese Missile Threat.
Inside Missile Defense. Thomas Duffy, Mar 12, 1997, p 1, 13
According to a 1996 summer study entitled "Future Asian Scenarios," performed for the under secretary of defense for policy, if China targets large numbers of conventional theater ballistic missiles at Taiwan in an attempt to force reunification of the two countries, the United States' options for coming to Taiwan's aid would be limited.
Israel's Arrow Missile Scores Hit; Second Successful Test In Six Months.
Inside Missile Defense. John Liang, Mar 12, 1997, p 3
A US/Israeli-built Arrow II missile successfully downed a target off the coast of Israel on March 11. It was the second successful intercept for the program. BMDO Director LtGen Lyles visited Israel last month to review the Arrow program and told the HNS R&D subcommittee that he felt good about the technology, technology maturity, and status of the Arrow program.
Lawmaker Accuses DoD Of Using Service Funds To Inflate BMD Account.
Inside The Pentagon. John Liang, Mar 06, 1997, p 5
In the wake of Ballistic Missile Defense Organization's recent decision to shift more procurement responsibility to the services, Chairman of the House Security research and development subcommittee, Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA) has accused the Defense Department of counting theater missile defense (TMD) money from service accounts as part of the BMDO budget to make TMD funding look larger than it really is.
Navy Scud-Buster Flies Over Next Program Hurdle.
Missile Defense Report, Feb 14, 1997, p 1-2
The Navy area wide (lower tier) missile defense program was approved to progress to the next development stage, building two dozen systems for testing and contingency use at sea over the next four years. The article describes the Standard Missile 2 Block IVA, and the testing and evaluation process already passed and forthcoming.
LtGen Lester Lyles February 13 Speech Excerpts.
Missile Defense Report, Feb 28, 1997, p 4
This article contains excerpts culled from a February 13, 1997, address by LtGen Lyles, BMDO director, to a meeting of the Association of the US Army, the ADPA and Space Club chapters in Huntsville, Alabama.
$5 Billion Pegged For Service Missile Defense.
Missile Defense Report, Feb 14, 1997, p 1-2
The article discusses proposed funding for DoD wide missile defense for FY98 and FY99. Programs whose funding are discussed include: SBIS; PAC-3; Standard Missile; SMTS.
Over $21 Billion For Missile Defense Spending 1998 To 2000.
Missile Defense Report, Feb 14, 1997, p 2
This article discusses the $21.4b that the Pentagon plans to spend on missile defense from 1998 through 2001, including BMDO programs and major service wide programs. Programs discussed include: THAAD; Patriot PAC-3; Navy lower tier area wide system; ABL; Navy upper tier theater wide missile; NMD; MEADS; BPI.
Lyles: 'Three-Plus-Three' NMD Plan Begins Later This Year.
Missile Defense Report, Feb 28, 1997, p 1, 3, 5
In response to Sen Levin (D-MI), the director of BMDO LtGen Lyles, told the Strategic Forces Armed Services subcommittee there is indeed confusion on the issue of what year kicks off the plan to develop in three years a system that could be deployed three years later. Lyles conceded that the first year has not begun, but the national missile defense so-called "three-plus-three" plan begins later this fiscal year, still allowing for deployment in 2003.
Service Missile Defense Funding (TABLE).
Missile Defense Report, Feb 14, 1997, p 3
This table shows missile defense funding categories procurement and research and development. Break down of funding by service branch and program title. A separate table on the same page shows FY98 Ballistic Missile Defense Program funds for key programs and comparisons of funding amounts projected through 2003.
Missile Defense System Fails Fourth Test.
Washington Post. John Mintz, Mar 07, 1997, p G2,
An anti-missile being developed by Lockheed Martin Corp. failed its fourth test flight in a row, clouding the future of the $17 billion program and illustrating anew the technical difficulties in the missile defenses envisioned by President Reagan in the 1980s.
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