Strategic Weapons: December 22, 2001

Archives

The seventh test of the missile defense system (3 Dec) was successful, with a kill vehicle destroying the target (rejecting a single decoy) as it did in the sixth test last June. The two tests were nearly identical (the booster for the target was different) and critics complain that test seven was a publicity stunt in which nothing new was learned. The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization insists that the seventh test was needed to confirm the equipment before test eight in February, which will use multiple decoys. (If the next test is not ready by February, it will have to wait until May as the Kwajalein missile range is booked for other tests.) The Navy had wanted to test its Theater Wide system this year but won't have its kill vehicle ready until spring.--Stephen V Cole

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contribute. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   contribute   Close