Interceptor shield

Interceptor Shield Report
Nathan J Hunt
March 31, 2006

As previously reported yesterday in the Interceptor Shield Report that Iran would be highly likely to conduct a test of one or more missile systems in the planned Naval exercise. Today it was announced that Iran had conducted a test of a new version of their Fajr-3 missile that has 40 kilometers range. In a press statement Iran’s air force chief of the Revolutionary Guards stated the missile has radar-evading capability.

Interceptor Shield Report
Nathan J Hunt
March 30, 2006

News sources are reporting that on Friday Iran plans to stage a large-scale war game in the Persian Gulf to increases preparedness to ward off threats, Iran did not specify from where the treats originates but the war games come on the heels of tensions with the west over Iran Nuclear program. Admiral Mohammad Ebrahim Dehghan told state television that the strait of Hormouz would be one of the focal points of the exercise. The war game will last from march 31 to April 6.

Editors Note:
Although Iran has not stated whether it will be conducting any missile tests along as part of the war game, Iran may decide to conduct a test of their short-range missiles as part of the war game. In December 2005 Iran during a sea exercise used the event to conduct a test of their surface-to-sea silkworm missiles that has a 110 kilometers 68 miles range.

Interceptor Shield Report
Nathan J Hunt
March 28, 2006

Raytheon Missile Systems and Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire control, conducted a successful flight test of the new Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System (NLOS-LS) Precision Attack Missile (PAM). The PAM missile was launched from a Container Launch Unit (CLU) system was integrated into a motion simulator that simulated the motions of a ship at sea.

The PAM BTV flight test was conducted in upper-sea-state-three conditions to demonstrate the safe egress of the PAM missile from the CLU. Sea state three represents conditions where a vessel experiences three- to five-foot waves and winds exceeding 15 knots.

The Navy has selected the NLOS-LS PAM system and CLU as the premier engagement capability against surface warfare threats for the Littoral Combat Ship. The Navy expects to build more than 50 LCSs with the first ships commissioned in fiscal year 2008.

Interceptor Shield Report
Nathan J Hunt
March 21, 2006

Pakistan today conducted a test flight of the Haft VII cruise missile. The launch was attended by President Gen, Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan Military stated “all phases of the planned trajectory where extremely successful and the missile hit with pinpoint accuracy” The missile was ground launched but the missile is capable of firing from a submarine or surface ship. The Haft VII Cruise missile is designed to carry a nuclear warhead and has a 310-mile range. The missile was previously tested last August of 2005.

Interceptor Shield Report
Nathan J Hunt
March 8, 2006

Today the MDA “Missile Defense Agency” announced they have completed a test in cooperation with the Japan Defense Agency in the development of the new SM-3 nose cone. The test occurred at 3:45 PM EST, A SM-3 missile was fired from the USS Lake Erie, the missile was a newly outfitted Standard Missile 3 “SM-3” with the new nose cone Japan has been developing. Instead of a kinetic warhead, the missile was equipped with sensors and camera’s to record data on how the missile acted and responded to the nose cone separation.

Cooperation with Japan in development of work on missile defense systems began in 1999, in 2005 Japan agreed to expand cooperation in development on missile defense.

Editors Note:
Previously the SM-3 “Standard Missile-3” needed to maneuver to eject the nose cone before deploying the kinetic warhead. The new nose cone in development with Japan uses a Clamshell design allowing the nose cone to fold backwards allowing the missile to deploy the warhead with out needing to maneuver first.