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Pentagon to Review Missile Defense Test Equipment
U.S. Missile Defense Agency chief Air Force Lt. Gen. Henry Obering said yesterday that he has ordered a review of all ground equipment used in missile defense testing, according to the Washington Post. The review follows two recent tests of the Ground-based Missile Defense system in which missile interceptors failed to launch (see GSN, Feb. 14). In a conference call with reporters, Obering said he has also asked a team of independent experts to review “our completed test processes on the ground” and that he has created a new position of director of mission readiness to manage future tests. The new position is set to be filed by Navy Rear Adm. Kathleen Paige, who previously managed the Defense Department’s sea-based missile defense program, the Post reported. “We’ve got some things to correct in our test program, but they are not major deficiencies in the system,” Obering said. “I will take some steps to make sure that we have solved those minor problems that keep tripping us up. But, overall, I’m very optimistic,” he added (Bradley Graham, Washington Post, March 10). Obering also said that last month’s failed missile defense intercept test occurred because a support arm in the interceptor’s silo failed to move away properly, according to Agence France-Presse. “The hard things about missile defense we are accomplishing. The easy things is what we are having trouble with, like arms moving out of the way,” he said. The next missile defense flight test could be held as soon as the end of next month, Obering added (Agence France-Presse, March 10).
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