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U.S. Plans: Senate Wants to Test PAC-3 Against Scuds The Senate Armed Services Committee has asked the Pentagon to test the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 missile against Scud missile targets before it is sent into the field, Defense Daily reported today. The Missile Defense Agency, however, said that Scud missiles cannot be fired at U.S. test ranges (see GSN, Aug. 22). The committee included $30 million for the tests in a classified annex to its version of the fiscal 2003 defense authorization bill, Defense Daily reported. No similar provision appears in the House version of the bill. Both houses have approved their own versions of the authorization legislation (see GSN, Aug. 9). The PAC-3 has tested against missiles similar to the Scud, Missile Defense Agency officials said. Although the agency is open to testing against Scuds at a later date, it is not an option now, they added. “The PAC-3 flight test program may utilize Scud targets in the future, but current range safety restrictions at White Sands Missile Range do not allow for the launch,” said agency spokesman Air Force Lt. Col. Rich Lehner. The agency is conducting an environmental assessment at White Sands, N.M. to determine the impact of firing liquid-fueled missiles, such as the Scud. Until the study is completed, liquid-fueled missiles cannot be launched at the range and officials have ruled out the possibility of using another site. The idea of testing the PAC-3 in such a scenario received support from Philip Coyle, the former head of the Pentagon’s office of operational test and evaluation. He contradicted the assertion that previous tests have used missiles similar to Scuds. “Testing against Scuds would absolutely be a benefit because that is going to be the primary target,” Coyle said. “In PAC-3 tests so far they’ve not had a target like a Scud.” The agency said it is moving forward with low rate initial production plans regardless. Lockheed Martin plans to deliver 32 PAC-3 missiles, 11 Patriot launcher modification kits and 18 fire solution computers (Kerry Gildea, Defense Daily, Sept. 19).
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