U.S. Missile Defense Test Succeeds After Two Delays

Reuters ^ | 12/3/01

[TD911]

U.S. Missile Defense Test Succeeds After Two Delays

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States military on Monday successfully carried out a twice-delayed test shoot-down of a missile warhead over the Pacific Ocean, advancing missile defense plans opposed by Moscow and Beijing.

``The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) announced today (Monday) that it has successfully completed a test involving a planned intercept of an intercontinental ballistic missile target,'' the Defense Department said in a statement.

In the test, a ``kill vehicle'' projectile fired from Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific intercepted and destroyed the dummy warhead launched on a Minuteman-2 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California about 4,800 miles away.

The test was postponed on Saturday and Sunday nights because of bad weather.

The United States had failed in two of four previous attempts to shoot down ``a bullet with a bullet'' in space over the Pacific. Both Russia and China oppose U.S. plans to develop a missile shield, saying it would violate the 1972 anti-ballistic missile (ABM) treaty and could trigger a new arms race.

The test is part of the Bush administration's goal of building a limited shield to protect against ballistic missiles from ``rogue'' nations such as North Korea, Iran and Iraq.

[TD911]

Let's Roll!!!!

[KantianBurke]

I don't get it. Sen. Leahy and Dodd said this would never work. Where they wrong?????????

[KC_Conspirator]

I have noticed a lot of negativity about this test in this article. Rueters, as well as AP, seem to feel that they can weave opinion into informative articles. The next article on a delayed Space Shuttle launch will never contain so many references to delays and past failures.

[greasepaint]

After this weekend's weather delay, this test is reported
to be a 'success'. Lets hope the N Koreans
agree not to attack during bad weather. Perhaps, if we
give them some rice, we could negotiate a treaty stipulating
when the US is allowed to be attacked.

[flamefront]

Sen. Biden is convening meetings to shift priorities in defense spending because he says missile defense would not have prevented the 9/11 attack.

I think he is exactly wrong. A retargeted missile defense could have been the very thing to shoot down errant airliners used as missiles to attack buildings. Scrambled jets were minutes away during the attacks according to NORAD; anti-missles could have been present sooner.

Missile defense needs funding and deployment. Of course better means like lasers are desirable too.

[Rain-maker]

Getting rather sick of this skewed anti-defense media rhetoric also. Delay or not the test was a success and opens the door of plausibility and feasability.

The media is in serious need of a reality check and best know the U.S. will not sit idley, cower under the kitchen table, and suck our thumbs like they want us to.

If Reuters/AP continue to cover us with this goat-smelling pacifist's garbage in an effort to make us a target for 3rd world buzzards,then it's time to bring out the headsman's axe and roll some skulls.

An email complaint campaign is in order...enough of the slanted jibberish!

[The Cajun]

As much stated here "The sleeping giant has awaken" and the liberals fear him as much as the terrorist.
In fact liberals and terrorist have at least one thing in common, they are both cowards.

[patriciaruth]

Computers are impossible, too.

Every time I use my laptop, I think that.

[John W]

So,you seem bitter about this success.Whats up?

[backhoe]

-Links for Missile Defense- Nuke News--

Communicate! Let the Sons of....

[marvlus]

I don't think greasepaint is upset about the success. He's thinking like I am. I would hope that some testing is being done in non perfect conditions, because we live in a non perfect world.

[gulfcoast6]

It seems that Pete and Repeat (Dashael and Lahey) are against anything that is good for this country.

[leadpenny]

Congratulations to the US Air Force, Boeing and all of the sub-contractors. Nice shot!

[jimtorr]

The weather delays were only so that all aspects of the test could be filmed. Obviously, the missles could care less. The ABM would be launced from a canister or silo, and accelerates so quickly that it's hardly affected by high winds or rain, and all of the action takes place miles above any weather.

[MichaelP]

Lets hope the N Koreans agree not to attack during bad weather

The weather had no effect on the interceptor's ability to strike the warhead. They waited for clear weather so the could OBSERVE the test with telescopes and thus verifying a hit....

Mike

[mlocher]

i don't get it. sen leahy and dodd said this would never work. what went wrong???

sens. leahy and dodd don't work.

[mlocher]

i would hope that some testing is done in non-perfect conditions.

it will be. first tests in just about anything is run to show the concept works. more development for imperfect conditions and error conditions remain, and then those are tested.

[azhenfud]

I hope this kill vehicle didn't require the "assistance" of a GPS locator signal emmitted from the target vehicle (like the last "successful"[?] test).
If it did, it is evident we are still a L O N G way from realizing any appreciable deterrent aspect from this program.
I think I'll remain "cautiously optimistic" of the system....

[BigWaveBetty]

To all the naysayers, HA HA! we told you so!! :-)

[ChadGore]

It's a hit !!