MDA Does Not Plan to Test Missile Defense Radar Before Deployment

The U.S. Defense Department is on track to field its national missile defense system next year with an untested radar, according to an unreleased General Accounting Office report (see GSN, Aug. 21).

Defense officials have said they do not have enough money to integrate the radar into two missile intercept tests set to take place before the overall system is fielded (see GSN, April 18).  Some lawmakers are concerned, however, that an untested radar could render the system useless.

“If the radar does not work, the system will not be able to intercept incoming missiles,” said Senator Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), who requested the report.

Raytheon produced the Cobra Dane radar, which is currently based in Alaska to gather data on Russian missiles.  The Pentagon is adding software to enhance the radar’s ability to track missiles for the new defense system, but the GAO said that capability should first be tested (see GSN, Dec. 18, 2002).

The Missile Defense Agency “does not plan to demonstrate through integrated flight tests whether the radar’s software can process and communicate data on the location of enemy missiles in ‘real time,’” the report says.

The Cobra Dane radar is set to be assisted by a less advanced early warning radar in California, sea-based radar on Navy vessels, ground-based Army missile radars and the current fleet of U.S. early warning satellites, according to MDA spokesman Rick Lehner (Tony Capaccio, Bloomberg.com, Sept. 22).

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U.S. Forces in South Korea Display PAC-3 Interceptor Batteries

U.S. forces in South Korea yesterday displayed new Patriot Advanced Capability 3 interceptor batteries about 50 miles south of the North Korean border, according to the Washington Times (see GSN, Sept. 16).

The U.S. military currently has four PAC-3 batteries and four PAC-2 batteries deployed in South Korea, the Times reported.  The PAC-3 battery can carry up to 16 interceptors, while a PAC-2 launcher can only carry four interceptors (Washington Times, Sept. 19).

North Korea yesterday criticized the PAC-3 upgrade, calling the move “preparations for pre-emptive strikes” against Pyongyang.

“If the United States wants to resolve the nuclear problem peacefully, it must stop the war preparations and change its hostile policy on the D.P.R.K.,” the North Korean state-run television said.  “The U.S. arms buildup in South Korea is creating a stumbling block to resolving the nuclear problem as it is dangerous war preparation to increase tensions on the Korean peninsula,” it said (Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, Sept. 19).

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