U.S. Successfully Tests Missile Interceptor

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency on Friday brought down a mock warhead in a flight test of a missile interceptor, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Aug. 17).

The warhead was fired from Kodiak Island in Alaska 17 minutes before the interceptor left Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 10:39 a.m.  The interceptor’s kill vehicle hit the 4-foot-long target 100 miles above the Pacific Ocean, AP reported.

“It gave us a good chance to measure overall system performance,” said Missile Defense Agency spokesman Rick Lehner.  “It was the most operationally realistic test we’ve had.”

An early warning radar at Beale Air Force Base in California also for the first time was used to provide information to place the interceptor on the path to hit the warhead.

“What we did today is a huge step in terms of our systematic approach to continuing to field, continuing to deploy and continuing to develop a missile defense system for the United States, for our allies, our friends, our deployed forces around the world,” said Lt. Gen. Henry Obering, head of the Missile Defense Agency.

Others reacted less positively to the $85 million test.

It “clearly shows that it is the U.S. which is increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and threatening war against our country,” according to a statement from the North Korean Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland.  Pyongyang will boost its “self-defensive deterrent,” the statement said, using the standard North Korean code for its nuclear program.

Observers said the test should not be seen as final proof of protection against a missile strike, AP reported.

In a test, “they know the when, the where, the what (of the target missile) … where it’s coming from, the size of the warhead,” said Stephen Young, a senior analyst with the Union of Concerned Scientists (Robert Jablon, Associated Press/RedOrbit.com, Sept. 2).

The Bush administration and Democrats agree on the need for a comprehensive missile defense test to prove the functionality of interceptors, satellites and radars, United Press International reported Aug. 29. 

“I want to see it happen … a full end-to-end process where we actually put all the pieces together.  That just hasn’t happened,” said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

A leading Democrat said, though, that such a test has yet to be scheduled.

“I am pleased to see that Secretary Rumsfeld has recognized the need to fully test our missile defense system in realistic conditions,” responded Representative Ike Skelton (D-Mo.).  Democrats on this [House Armed Services] Committee have been calling for these tests for some time, and I look forward to seeing the secretary’s plan for carrying them out.”

“Unfortunately, after reviewing the Missile Defense Agency’s test schedule, we see no evidence of the comprehensive and realistic end-to-end test of the limited missile defense system,” he added (United Press International, Aug. 29).

Meanwhile, two U.S. Patriot Advanced Capability 3 interceptors last week destroyed another Patriot missile representing an incoming tactical ballistic missile, Lockheed Martin said.

The interception at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico was the 19th successful flight test in 22 tries (Lockheed Martin release, Sept. 1).

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