Free Republic

The system Bush may offer is known as a forward-based X-band radar. Transportable by air, it uses high-powered pulsed beams for extremely high-resolution tracking of objects in space such as a missile that could be tipped with a chemical, germ or nuclear warhead. Built by Raytheon Co, the system has been described by U.S. officials as capable of tracking an object the size of a baseball from about 2,900 miles (4,700 km) away. It would let Israel's Arrow missile defences engage a Shahab-3 ballistic missile about halfway through what would be its 11-minute flight to Israel from Iran, or six...

INGLESIDE, Texas (AP) -- Military officials offered a peek at a new missile-detecting radar that is part of a system some critics have labeled "Son of Star Wars." Army officers and contractors showed off the Sea-based X-band Radar (SBX) Tuesday. The radar, which is mounted on a semi-submersible oil-drilling rig, is part of Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD), a missile defense system designed to protect the country against incoming warheads. It looks almost space age with its giant white sphere, which protects an advanced radar that can track a missile across the horizon. The radar provides the information needed to remotely...

Missile detection system unveiled Associated Press INGLESIDE, Texas — Military officials offered a peak at a new missile-detecting radar system some have labeled “Son of Star Wars.” Army officers and contractors unveiled the Sea-based X-band Radar Tuesday amid doubts of its launch capabilities. The system, which is mounted on a semi-submersible oil-drilling rig, is designed to protect the country against incoming warheads. It looks almost space age with its giant white sphere, which protects an advanced radar that can track a missile across the horizon. The radar provides the information needed to remotely launch U.S. missiles at incoming warheads. At...