Interceptor shield

SOURCE: LOCKHEEDMARTIN
September 28, 2005

Press Release
SUNNYVALE, Calif., September 28, 2005 — Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] today announced the successful delivery of its second Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO 2) payload, a critical element of the nation’s next-generation missile warning system, known at the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) program.
The payload ultimately will be integrated with a host satellite and launched into a highly elliptical orbit to globally scan for, detect and report missile launches and other infrared events of military interest. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif., the SBIRS prime contractor, and its subcontractor Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Azusa, Calif., built the two HEO payloads for the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base. The first payload was delivered to the Air Force in August 2004.
In addition to providing early warning of missile launches, SBIRS will support other missions simultaneously, including missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace characterization. SBIRS will augment missile defense by providing the earliest possible warning of ballistic and theatre missile attacks and accurate information to effectively cue other ballistic missile defense system elements to support intercept and negation of the threat. Improved capabilities for technical intelligence will enable combat commanders the flexibility to gain valuable insight into an adversary’s battlespace and provide both tactical and strategic missile warning around the globe.

To read the full press release, follow this Link

Source: RIA Novosti
September 28, 2005

MOSCOW, September 28 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov Wednesday praised tests of the new Bulava missile system, which the Armed Forces will get by the end of 2007.
“We focused financial and administrative resources on designing the fourth-generation Bulava system,” Ivanov told a conference on the 60th anniversary of the Russian nuclear industry. “The Armed Forces will get these weapons by the end of 2007.”
“A new RS-30 missile, a part of the Bulava missile system, was successfully launched by the Dmitry Donskoi nuclear submarine from an underwater position Tuesday,” he said.
To read the full news story follow this Link

Related news

Strategic ballistic missile launched in White Sea - Defense Ministry

Source: RIA Novosti
September 27, 2005
MOSCOW, September 27 (RIA Novosti) - Russia has successfully conducted the first in-flight test of a Bulava strategic ballistic missile in a White Sea trial, a top defense ministry official said Tuesday.
The missile was launched from the Dmitry Donskoy, a Typhoon class ballistic missile submarine, at 5:22 p.m. Moscow time (1:22 p.m. GMT).
“At the estimated elapsed time a dummy warhead hit the designated ‘target’ at the Kura test site on the Kamchatka Peninsula,” a navy spokesman said

To read the full news story follow this Link

Source: Missile Defense Agency

Press Release

September 26, 2005

Air Force Lieutenant General Henry “Trey” Obering, Missile Defense Agency director, announced the successful completion today of an important exercise to test the Cobra Dane radar located at Shemya, Alaska (Aleutian Islands) and the fire control system for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. The Ground-based Midcourse Defense is America’s deployed system to protect the country against a limited long-range ballistic missile attack. The Cobra Dane radar has been used for missile surveillance for nearly 30 years, and has been upgraded for use as missile defense radar.

The exercise involved the launch of a long-range ballistic missile from an Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft over international waters in the Pacific Ocean approximately 800 miles from Shemya Island. After the missile was dropped from the aircraft, a parachute deployed to stabilize and slow the missile. The missile’s first stage rocket motor then ignited, sending the missile downrange. The target missile’s flight was successfully tracked by the Cobra Dane radar, and the data obtained by Cobra Dane was then used to construct a Weapon Task Plan, or firing solution, that was fed into the systems fire control system manned by military “warfighters” in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Ft. Greely, Alaska, who currently operate the interceptor missile now deployed in Alaska and California, as well as the sensors and radars that provide operational detection and tracking information. The deployed interceptors provide for the first time a capability to defend all 50 states against a limited long-range ballistic missile attack.

To read the full press release follow this Link

On September 11, 2005 the Sea-Based X-band Radar transmitted the fist radar beams and marked yet another milestone of progress in the Missile defense program work towards an operational system, and in a recent Missile Defense Agency test of the PAC-3 system at the White sands Missile Range, during a test using the PAC-3 Systems a short range ballistic missile target was intercepted and destroyed. And on September the 18th the ninth GMD “Ground Based Midcourse Defense” Interceptor missile was emplaced in its silo at Fort Greely Alaska. But even with each one of these progresses there are those that do not see that the MDA is in fact making progress in the goals outlined for it, In an article published last morning by the “Center for American Progress” entitled “A Realistic Defense for America”, Lawrence Korb suggested that cutting most of the National Missile Defense program would save $7 billion, for a program he considers a failure. There have been a number of successful tests that are not often reported by the press. As more systems go online like the sea-based X-band Radar and are available for the MDA to draw on, the more accurate the system becomes for tracking, targeting and destroying incoming missiles. An overwhelming number of Americans support missile defense and feel that in the current world environment we must have and develop a working missile defense system. More countries are gaining the ability to make medium and long-range missiles. We cannot afford to narrow our defense posture but must consider all forms of defense. The world situation is complex and does not conform to idealistic geopolitical models. A strong defense is our best defense and best deterrent to aggression.

Nathan J Hunt
Missile Defense Advocate

SOURCE: Boeing
September 22, 2005

Press Release

ST. LOUIS, September 21, 2005 –- The Boeing [NYSE: BA] Ground Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program team and the Missile Defense Agency emplaced the ninth GMD interceptor in its underground silo at Fort Greely, Alaska on Sept. 18.
The operation involved the use of a special crane to lower the interceptor into the silo. This is the seventh interceptor emplaced at the Fort Greely Site. Two interceptors also were emplaced at the GMD Site at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., in 2004.

The GMD system consists of integrated ground-based interceptors, a variety of sensors and an expansive battle management command, control and communications network, capable of protecting the homeland from a limited long-range ballistic missile attack.

To read the full press release follow this Link

SOURCE: SAAB
September 22, 2005

Press Release

Today the procurement contract for the heavy-weight anti-ship Missile System RBS15 Mk3 from Saab was signed by the German Federal Procurement Agency and prime contractor Diehl BGT Defence. The value of the contract for Saab Bofors Dynamics, who is the system design authority, is MSEK 350. The co-operation agreement with Diehl BGT Defence encompasses development, production and marketing.
“This is a breakthrough for the RBS15 Mk3, and we are naturally both pleased and proud that the German Navy has chosen us and our business partner. This also makes Germany the first NATO navy to operate the RBS15 Mk3 system,” says Tomas Samuelsson, President of Saab Bofors Dynamics.

To read the full press release follow this Link

SOURCE: GrandForksHerald
September 21, 2005

WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of senators from five states sent a letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Wednesday asking him to maintain the nation’s current level of 500 nuclear missiles.
The senators sent the letter on the same day they held a Capitol Hill meeting with Air Force and Pentagon officials to discuss the future of the intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, located at bases in North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming.
A Pentagon review of future military strategy, conducted every four years, is expected to be released at the end of the year or in early 2006. Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and other senators at the meeting worry that the review - called the Quadrennial Defense Review, or QDR - will recommend reducing the stockpile.
“We know there are discussions going into the QDR to reduce the number of missiles,” Conrad said. “Once you start reducing, where do you stop?”
Conrad told Pentagon officials at the meeting that he was aware of an attempt during this year’s base closing process to reduce the number of nuclear missiles. The final base closure report, approved by Bush earlier this month, did not recommend closing or realigning any of the missile bases or reducing the stockpile.

To read the full news story follow this Link

SOURCE: Reuters
September 20, 2005

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) won a contract worth up to $2.5 billion over ten years to support a broad range of Missile Defense Agency activities, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. The initial two-year base contract, to take effect in February 2006, has a minimum value of $30 million and a ceiling of $500 million, it said. The total value of the contract could rise to $2.5 billion, if all three one-year options and five one-year award terms are exercised, the Defense Department said in a statement. Under the contract, Northrop Grumman would support operational components of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System that may be deployed in the future, as well as playing a key role in integrating missile-defense war games and exercises across the military services.

To read the full news story follow this Link

Source: Missile Defense Agency

Press Release

September 20, 2005

Air Force Lieutenant General Henry “Trey” Obering, Missile Defense Agency (MDA) director, announced today the successful completion September 14, 2005 of an exercise involving the Ballistic Missile Defense System elements, using the operational test of a U.S. Air Force strategic missile from Vandenberg AFB, Calif. As a “target” of opportunity.” MDA’s primary objective of the test was to verify sensor function and evaluate engagement scenarios for Forward-Based X-Band Transportable Radar, transportable radar that can be moved by aircraft to anywhere in the world to support ballistic missile defense.

To read the full press release follow this Link

Source: U.S. Department of Defense

Contracts No. 948-05
September 20, 2005

MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, Reston, Virginia, is being awarded an Indefinite - Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) / award term contract to support Ballistic Missile Defense System operational components that may be deployed in the future; support the Missile Defnse Agency/Integration Center missile defense related analysis, system level engineering, integration, interoperability, and test and evaluation; support development of Joint and Combined missile defense doctrine, requirements, and concept of operations through simulations, wargames and exercises; provide a rapid prototyping environment for air and missile defense missions; support combatant commands by integrating missile defense concepts, space asset exploitation, and battle management/command and control, communications, computers, and intelligence. The minimum award value is $30 million for the first award period and the maximum award value is $500 million with a potential total maximum for all options and award terms of $2.5 billion. The primary performance is at Schriever AFB, Colorado. This is a two-year base period of performance with three one-year options, and five-one year award terms for a potential maximum contract length of ten years. The initial contract period of performance is February 1, 2006 to January 31, 2008. The Missile Defense Agency is the contracting activity (H95001-06-D-0001).

To read the full contract list follow this Link