Isnt it funny how news like this is greeted with a collective yawn from most of the media?
Its another example of what they call in the journalism world a dog bites man event.
Boeing announced this weekend a successful intercept of a ballistic missile in space of its mission representative exo-atmospheric kill vehicle. In the past, there would have been much made of this successful test, but now, its only news of a test fails the man bites dog event.
The test of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system began at 4:01 p.m. Eastern when a long-range ballistic missile target lifted off from the Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska. Seventeen minutes later, military operators launched an interceptor from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. As the interceptor flew toward the target, it received target data updates from the upgraded missile-warning radar at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. After flying into space, the interceptor released its exoatmospheric kill vehicle, which proceeded to track, intercept and destroy the target warhead.
The test, GMD’s seventh intercept overall, was the second intercept with an operationally configured interceptor since September 2006.
With another intercept under our belts, we have even greater confidence that the GMD system, if called upon in a real-world scenario, will defend the nation against a limited ballistic missile attack,” said Scott Fancher, Boeing vice president and program director for GMD. The Boeing-led test was highly complex, involving a wide range of assets, including the Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX). SBX, a powerful new sea-based sensor developed by Boeing, tracked the target missile to prepare for the next GMD flight test, which will see SBX provide target updates to an in-flight interceptor for the first time.
I guess its an example of how far the missile defense debate has come. Its no longer about whether you can hit a bullet with a bullet, as opponents used to say, was impossible. Now the debate is more about whether a radar in the Czech Republic will alienate the increasingly paranoid Russian government.
GMD defends the nation against a limited number of long-range ballistic missiles, with interceptors deployed in underground silos at Vandenberg and Ft. Greely, Alaska. An integral element of the global ballistic missile defense system, GMD also consists of radars, other sensors, command-and-control facilities, communications terminals and a 20,000-mile fiber optic communications network. The U.S. government has announced plans to extend this capability to Europe.
Yes it has been expensive. Yes its been a long time coming. Yes there are many more hurdles to overcome. But the fact that this story gained little traction, is an even louder endorsement of the system than the actual space kill.
Beautiful. Gee, I wonder if we should check out with the unbiased experts such as–I dunno–ArmsControlWonk to see how A) it is impossible and B) it is a bad thing.
Personally, I love that syllogism; can’t do it, and if we do it, it’s bad. Kinda like Catholic school without all of the icky moral education. But salvation is so close if we just content ourselves with thermonuclear destruction of our cities and the choice to either return the obliteration or suffer like a saint.
Good God, I know of no other doctrine as barbaric in practice as the arms control movement, especially as it has descended the slippery slope to opposing defensive weapons.
One puzzling thing about this test and the previous one using a target fired from Kodiak is that both the target and the VAFB-fired interceptor seem to have been moving much slower than would be the case in an ICBM intercept scenario(about 2 — 2.5 km/s vs > 6). Anybody know why that is?
Ok, it may not be the case that the interceptor was fired first, however in the video they showed the interceptor launch first. Please tell me that was just the way they filmed it and is NOT an indication that the missile already knew where to fire OR that it needed that time/speed “cheat” to get to the designated impact point to kill the missile?
Perhaps nobody really notices anything about Star Wars because the program is a throwback to the Cold War bipolar competition at a time when terrorists setting off a dirty bomb are far more likely than any sort of nuclear exchange and the world’s most impressive military is bogged down by insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan.
How should we react? Bravo! Twenty years of tests, billions of dollars and if we accept that the test wasn’t rigged (as many have been before) then we finally can hit “a bullet with a bullet”? I’m a little confused, should it be more of a news event that we finally hit something or that they can do it consistently… I’m not sure I’ve heard them say they consistently intercept in these tests?
Also, forgive me but how close are we to hitting multiple “bullets” and attending dummy countermeasures because that’s always been a reality check that this program hasn’t never adequately addressed, nor will it anytime soon.
This is a great step in the right direction. Something went right is the left media isnt saying much. If something went wrong we would have heard about it. Now all we need is to build up our own stockpile of missles to nuke Korea. One question though? If we are attacked and we shoot the missle down, what will happen? Will we be able to take action or will the democrats make us back down and just defend again?
> it may not be the case that the interceptor was fired first
Time line in PST:
13:00–13:01 Target launched from Kodiak Island
13:16–13:18 Interceptor launched from Vandenberg
AFB
13:09–13:24 Beale AFB UEWR radar tracks target
13:24 Intercept “a few hundred miles” off
the California Coast, WNW of Los
Angeles (Current guesstimate is very
roughly 38N, 138W)
Makes hitting an old weather satellite look like child’s play.
It’s just classic engineering. If you do your work right, you’re ignored. If you screw up, then you get yelled out.
Just wait when the Airborne Laser another upcoming system that has at every step been screamed and wined about as a waste, boondoggle, useless blah blah blah.….even thou it has so far met the milestone albeit not as quickly as the best case scenerio’s drew out.
Especially considering that Airborne Laser will be even more revolutionary than the BMD has been. A deployable read stationed in US or other certain strategic areas capable of deploying to a theater then not just taking the enemy Ballistic Missiles off the table but send those that dare launch (warhead and all) back down on X hostile nation. Talk about game changer.
Can’t forget the other argument made by opponents of the system: it’ll be easily confused by simple decoys. A simple solution, of course, would be to simply build more interceptors and take out all of the targets, decoys or not. And also, how often does the military disclose its ability and techniques to overcome countermeasures in any type of combat?
Good Evening Guys,
Good thing that we are getting a KEI to work, now all we need is an enemy for it to protect us from.
ALLONS,
Byron Skinner
There are times when the nuclear deterrent fails and you need a proper missile defense.
Consider the following very likely scenario:
US attacks some country that has long-range missiles capability. The regime fears it is doomed and fires its missiles in retaliation and/or desparation.
The regime is doomed anyway and may not care enough about its country or people to be deterred by a counter attack.
So to preserve the option of going to war with second-rate missile powers, the US needs a missile defense.
whilst echoing some of the previous comments (i.e. how would this fair against multiple missiles with multiple warheads/decoys, and how would its response time / procedure fair when it wasn’t expecting a test …), i also wonder if this won’t simply force potential enemies it has been designed against to come up with more asymmetric strategies, e.g. smuggle the nukes into defended country(ies) and detonate, or simply build more than the system could ever cope with (the soviet doctrine if you like). there is already suggestion that the chinese are considering this, thus making the world less safe for the usa and everyone else, not more so. also, what are the relative economic costs? how does the per-shot intercept cost compare to a ballistic missile fitted only with dummy warheads, for instance in a cheaper way to overwhelm the system. as for the airborne-laser system, well how many would have to be flying 24 hours in order to provide sufficient protection? i’m just a bit cynical about the whole thing i guess, and think the money and time could be better spent elsewhere, e.g. on diplomacy perhaps so that such a system isn’t needed anyway … (call me an idealist too). oh and for ‘22lr’ with their nuke korea comment, well the usa already has the capability of wiping that country (if not the continent) from the map!
Russia told US the last time that they had taught their missiles to zig and zag and improved their dummies. Does anyone doubt that the interlocking directorships of the businesses of Arms, Oil, Media, Drugs has the most influence on this game?
I ment more that we need the weapons, and we need to be more able to use them. Nukes are a deterance more than a weapon, and if we keep on our path we wont have any more left before long. Id say we need to keep making more of them.
No one is going to fire a nuclear weapon anywhere. Get over it.
Here’s my thought: Missiles launched from NK, Iran, etc…, at the US are just an excuse to keep the program going. They are very unlikely events and, as others have pointed out, a nuke in a shipping container (or whatever) is more likely.
That said, keeping a program like this going might not be a bad idea because:
a) It may eventually result in something that actually works against a realistic missile attack, and
b) It will undoubtedly result in spin-off technologies that benefit other areas of defense or even non-defense areas.
Not sure if it’s worth the bucks spent, but I think a) and b) are legitimate points to consider.
Good Morning Folks,
I agree with Mark, “No one is going to fire a nuclear weapon anywhere.“
The rational for the current ballistic missile defense system escapes all logic. If it worked as as advertised it would be effective against only the large sub-orbital ICBM’s (Atlas, S-2, Titan etc.)of 50 years ago. Russia, China, United States, France, Britain the nuclear big boys left this technologly in the 1960’s when they developed solid fueled orbital systems which even by the admission of supporters of the current missile defense system these interceptors are useless against.
The idea that some second or third tier country like Iraq, Iran or North Korea is going to invest the capital and resources in developing a liquid fueled sub-orbital ICBM is beyond even the twisted logic of the current administration.
The only rational for the developement of the current missile defense system appears to be corporate welfare to Boeing and the Military Industrial Complex in geberal.
ALLONS,
Byron Skinner
“No one is going to fire a nuclear weapon anywhere. Get over it.“
Oh? Used it twice, bud.
The future is a very long time, pardner. I can assure you, we will use them again.
Verc;
The logic is clear. Nothing but MAD will do. Anything buy MAD is too dangerous to contemplate.
A few things I’ve seen mentioned here. Some old, some new.
1) What about spending money on diplomacy, making the need for such weapons obselete? Two answers here. First, we already spend a lot of money on diplomacy. Spending more won’t miraculously change anyone’s stance. Iran isn’t going to like us any more than they already do just because we’ve got nicer carpets in our embassy. Second, it takes two to tango. We aren’t worried about nuclear attacks from France. We’re worried about attacks from hostile countries, i.e., those who have so far been unwilling to engage in meaningful dialogue.
2) Cost of countermeasures. Undoubtedly, it is cheaper for a nation of evil islamic-commie bastards to build an extra 100 missiles than it is for us to build an extra 100 interceptors. That does not mean, however, that they have the finances to engage in a massive building program. North Korea has trouble getting their missiles to remain airborne. Building 100, or 1000, is beyond their current (and future) capabilities. The US has a much larger economic base upon which we can draw. It’s cheaper to buy a roadside bomb than it is to buy an Abrams tank. Fortunately, we have more money than they do. The same will continue with our missile defense.
3) Defeating multiple decoys, other technological countermeasures. It is true that our current level of missile defense is not up to stopping an all-out attack by an angry Russia. But our current level of technology in this area was thought impossible by most only 5 years ago. It’s not like we’re going to get the current system running and then stop. If we were, Russia would not be so worried about missile defense stations in Eastern Europe. The question is not “where is this technology now”, but “where will this technology be in 15 years?“
4) We should spend this money in Iraq. The problem with this is that more money, and more expensive toys, will not save Iraq. The only outright solution for Iraq and Afghanistan is more troops and more willingness to use force (there are also things like getting the people to stop killing each other, but those are really things they must accomplish on their own–you can’t force people to sing kumbayah at the barrel of a gun (well, I guess you can, but you can’t make them mean it)). These are POLITICAL, not technological, hurdles. You could spend an extra 100 billion dollars on our current wars, and it won’t end the hostilities.
5) Nukes in a shipping container. It’s true that some crazy bastard could load a weapon into a shipping container and ambush the US. However, such a tactic is still of much less use than the ability to launch a missile at any desired location. In an ambush situation (like 9/11), it would be relatively easy to sneak an undetected nuke into a US harbor. However, there are major limitations on such an attack. If US forces lined up on the border of Iran and prepared to invade, a missile-launch system allows Iran to drop a bomb directly on the forces, killing hundreds of thousands of men and slamming the door shut on an invasion. A bomb in a cargo boat is not so flexible. Likewise, our conventional forces (including spy satellites, intelligence agencies, etc) can keep out an eye for terrorist attacks coming from known nuclear powers during times of political turmoil. If such an attack is discovered, it can be stopped in its week-long journey to the US. A missile, however, cannot.
Final thoughts. The best case scenario for missile defense is that it discourages the pursuit of nuclear weapons, to the point where its use is never required. As it is now, North Korea (and Iran as well, if you believe the reports) has embarked on a crash-course nuclear weapons program. It feels that if it can create even a single nuclear missile, then it has a blackmail tool against all other nations. No one will risk angering NK if the consequence is a radioactive wasteland where Seoul or Tokyo once stood. We know it, and Kim Jong Il knows it. However, if a viable missile defense system is put into place, it dramatically increases the “entry-level” cost of a viable nuclear program. If it is known that the US can shoot down the first 50 missiles, then your program isn’t worth a hill of beans unless you have at least 51.
If drivers who speed have radar detectors. And, your a cop. You want to deterr those speeders. You find the technology to render those devices obsolete.
Some of you would tell doctors, not to give antibiotics. The germs will only mutate, and come back.
We need to control the situation. Until a better solution occurs. A cure, for whats attacking you
It’s easier to convince someone you don’t want to fight. If they think, you can defend yourself. Than, If your only accolade is the debate club.
Sad to say…It’s like in the movies. Someone pulls a knife, it’s nice to have a gun.
The naysayers simply don’t understand that this is a solvable physics and engineering problem. There will come the day that even a large salvo of missiles and decoys will be defeated with a layered defense concept.
There are some shortsighted comments here regarding ballistic missile development in developing countries. It is certainly possible many more countries will possess nuclear weapons and longe range ballistic missiles in the next 1–3 decades.
It would be imprudent for the US not to work to improve this technology, and eventually field it if Iran declares itself a nuclear weapons state.
“No one is going to fire a nuclear weapon anywhere. Get over it“
Let’s please not bet our grandchildren’s future on it.
Nuclear weapons are only taboo in Western rational minds.
We and our adversaries have used them for over 50 years to deter attack, and I can assure you, if we detected a single SS-18 heading for Washington during that time, we would have responded within 30 minutes with massive nuclear counterforce.
Just because we didn’t nuke Waziristan after the Pentagon and the lower half of Manhattan was smoldering doesn’t mean nukes will never be used by the US, or any other power.
We may have had a different result if 9/11 happened in 1945.
Come on people it’s a very dangerous world out there. I’ll bet every one of you have fire insurance on your house but hope your house never catches on fire. Go figure.
The meat heads out there always want to say we should spend this defense money on other worthwhile projects. Its because of this expense that we exist today so we can do the good we do through out the world both private & governmental.
There will ALWAYS be those that hate us & we can do nothing about that except to protect ourselves with the BEST defense system available.
What President said “Speak softly but carry a big stick.” I think it was Teddy the rough rider.
Come on people it’s a very dangerous world out there. I’ll bet every one of you have fire insurance on your house but hope your house never catches on fire. Go figure.
The meat heads out there always want to say we should spend this defense money on other worthwhile projects. Its because of this expense that we exist today so we can do the good we do through out the world both private & governmental.
There will ALWAYS be those that hate us & we can do nothing about that except to protect ourselves with the BEST defense system available.
What President said “Speak softly but carry a big stick.” I think it was Teddy the rough rider.
People think that Nuclear weapons will never be used. That doesn’t mean there will be a threat. I think terrorist will use these thing when they get a chance to. Of coarse they would have a country after that but It create all the world to start firing there own.
There are nuclear weapons all over the world and many are not accounted for. I think we should spend more money on defense measures. People choose to ignore it and thats how ROME fell. They thought they were the greatest and invincible until the HUN and other tribes banned together and invaded.
Nuclear weapons will be used again and that is a fact. It’s just when??? and WHERE??? Until every nuclear weapon is gone from the face of the earth there is always a threat.
Why not base the some missile shield in the Philppines–
o the Filipinos Love AMERICA & AMERICANS.
o Near China
o Reuse idle acerage for project
o Import more jobs into Philppines
o Reduce area piracy due to base there.
o Improve tourisim in PI area.
o Housing costs 3K US$
o Labor costs 4.00 hr.
o Deter China?
o Early warning station for area.
o FBM subs could use base for missiles.
o Revive ties since Subic Bay closed.
Who else will?
& also defend HI & the Western US from missiles.
I dont know about that I think it was moving at quite a rate, how would you know its going slow?
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great missile
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