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U.S. Plans I: Pentagon Plans to Test Interceptor Tonight By Kerry Boyd The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is scheduled to launch the target warhead on a modified Minuteman II ICBM from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. EST, according to a Defense Department release. Shortly thereafter, the agency will also launch a prototype midcourse interceptor from the Kwajalein Atoll test site in the Pacific Ocean. In a move to increase the test’s complexity, the ICBM will deploy a mock warhead with three balloon decoys — one large balloon and two small ones. Previous intercept tests involved only one balloon decoy. The test enhancements, however, have not overcome assertions that the anti-missile system will remain unproven in a real-life situations. A Union of Concerned Scientists report by David Wright and Lisbeth Gronlund says the types of decoys the MDA will use tonight are unlikely to increase the difficulty of discriminating between the warhead and the decoys. Similar to previous decoys, the decoys in tonight’s test will have infrared signals different from the mock warhead, and the interceptor system will have prior data on characteristics of the decoys and warheads, the UCS said. In a real-life situation, however, the U.S. defense system would not have detailed prior knowledge of an enemy’s decoys, and the decoys would probably be designed to closely resemble a warhead, UCS said. Therefore, the two additional decoys tonight will not test the system’s ability to function in a realistic situation, according to the UCS. Too Big, Too Small — Not Just Right The large balloon in tonight’s test will have an infrared signal larger than the warhead, and the small balloons will have signals smaller than the warhead, UCS said. Therefore, the kill vehicle should be able to easily distinguish between the balloons and warhead. Tonight’s test will not use medium-sized balloons that would more closely resemble a warhead, according to UCS. Tonight’s test will also have prior information about the time of day and the missile’s trajectory. The amount of sunlight or darkness during a missile flight affects the appearance of the warhead and decoys, so the data used in tonight’s test might be valid only for missile intercept attempts conducted under the same circumstances of time of day and trajectory, UCS said. Sixth Intercept Test Tonight’s test is the eighth in the series of Integrated Flight Tests, although it is only the sixth test to actually attempt an intercept. The first two tests were “fly-by” tests to gather information on the system’s sensors. Three of the five previous intercept attempts resulted in successful intercepts. Tonight’s test will involve an integrated system test with all system elements, such as the space-based missile warning sensor, ground-based early warning radar, X-Band radar at Kwajalein Atoll and the command and control system at both the atoll and the Joint National Integration Facility in Colorado. The Defense Department noted that the various elements of the system are all in a developmental phase.
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