U.S. Missile Defense Radar Hits Testing Milestone

Defense contractor Raytheon has finished calibrating a key radar component of the U.S. missile defense system in Alaska, United Press International reported yesterday (see GSN, Feb. 9).

The X-band radar, the most powerful radar in the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, is intended to track enemy warheads in space and guide U.S. missile interceptors.

By completing the calibration portion of its testing, the radar can now move to its “final performance verification testing” phase, according to a Raytheon statement.

“The radar will help identify the hostile warhead from the decoys and countermeasures, providing additional capability for interceptor missiles to protect the U.S. and its friends and allies from ballistic missile attacks,” the statement said (Martin Sieff, United Press International, March 13).

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