Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC
The US Department of Defense (DoD) has delayed by two years the possible FIelding of a National Missile Defense (NMD) system, to reduce risk, but has moved forward the planned deployment date of the most promising upper tier Theater Missile Defence (TMD) system.
The new strategy for the upper tier TMD weapon earmarks funds for accelerated procurement of the successful Navy Theater Wide weapon. It also recognises the continuing development problems with the "hit-to-kill" Lockheed Martin Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) project. Based on flight testing, the DoD will fund the most promising weapon while slowing others.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon plans to restructure the Medium Extended Range Air Defense System (MEADS) programme, a co-operative effort with Germany and Italy, to limit it to technology development.
Designed to defend the USA against a long-range ballistic missile attack, the Boeing-led NMD development would consist of radars, battle management assets, and boosters, each mounting asingle exo-atmospheric kill vehicle.
The original plan called for a deployment decision in 2000, with fielding of the system three years later. US defence secretary William Cohen says that the schedule had "-exceedingly high risk. We are now projecting a deployment date of 2005, with a much more manageable risk".
US Air Force Lt Gen Lester Lyles, director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, says that he "-wants to avoid the rush to failure sort of approach. We want to do things properly, get the right amount of testing in and understand exactly the technological maturity. We now have established a programme that I think makes sense."
The Navy Theater Wide TMD programme uses the Raytheon AEGIS radar system and an improved Standard Missile 3 for exo-atmospheric (upper tier) intercepts of short and medium range ballistic missiles. Unlike the THAAD, which has missed target missiles in all of its five flight trials, tests of the sea-based naval weapon have been encouraging.
The THAAD was scheduled for deployment in 2008, and the Navy Theater Wide in 2010. The new strategy allows for accelerated FIelding of an upper tier system in 2007. Late next year, THAAD and Navy Theater Wide cost, schedule, technical performance and programme risk will be scrutinised to determine which project should be significantly slowed, says Lyles.
Cohen says that funding for the MEADS has been slashed and that the project is being restructured to focus on the technology needed for a ground-based TMD system. He says it will "-allow us to explore less costly programme options by taking advantage of existing missile development programmes".
Lyles says that $150 million has been earmarked to develop a MEAD S fire control radar and mobile launcher over the next three years.
Source: Flight International