Anti Ballistic Missile works this time ... well sort of ...

20 years have elapsed and billions of dollars sunk into the pockets of space vehicle contractors since Ronnie R launched his vision of anti-ballistic missile defence (ABM) or Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) on March 23, 1983.

True to the signatories of the PNAC the first Dubya gang in it's desire for control of space. The US withdrew from the ABM Treaty with Russia (they gave 6 months notice on December 13, 2001 and it became effective On June 13, 2002), the US withdrew from the treaty.and to the wild cheering from the defence lobby and the neocons Rummy supercharged their efforts to build a defence shield in space.He was of course Chairman of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Threat Commission in 1998, that demanded full-spectrum space dominance and the the development of the current star wars program... which evolved into the National Missile Defense program.(More on ABM treaty details here)

Before seizing power Rummy had said “[the ABM Treaty] ought not to inhibit a country, a president, an administration, a nation from fashioning offensive and defensive capabilities that will provide for our security.” It's a philosophy we have gotten used to since.... The President , as Commander in Chief can do any damn thing he wants ... and he's got a raft of lawyers who tell him so.

Critics warned that this withdrawal would be a "fatal blow" to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and would lead to a "world without effective legal constraints on nuclear proliferation." (see Chirac remarks later)

In theory ground based interceptors from Fort Greely in Alaska (with ten 54-foot-long missile interceptors installed and another due) and Vandenburg Air Base in coastal California would, prompted by a worlwide web of detectors, radars (some in Menwith Hill and Fylingdales in Yorkshire) be launched to fly at 18,000 mph and smash a 155 pound "kill vehicle" (that's a bag and half of cement) into the speeding and incoming rocket.

This is how Boeing described the success of the flight in their news release ...

• An operationally configured interceptor was fired from an operational GMD site;
• An operationally configured interceptor tracked a ballistic missile;
• A newly upgraded missile-warning radar at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., provided target data to an in-flight interceptor;
• The mission-control center at the Joint National Integration Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., controlled a live GMD engagement.

The Bush gang wants to locate an interceptor site in Europe that would protect the United States and parts of Europe from missiles launched from the Middle East. The administration is seeking $126 million this year to build the site and the interceptors, which could be in place in 4 years if Congress provides the money, General Obering has claimed.

Don't expect such a site to be located in the land of the cheese eating surrender monkeys where President Chirac has said that he remained supportive of the "constitutive elements" of the ABM treaty and insisted any changes could weaken attempts to prevent weapons proliferation or damage the "strategic balance".

He said at the time it was essential to reinforce efforts to prevent an arms race and prevent the spread of nuclear, biological weapons, and underlined the neccessity of the "non-militarisation of space".

In the previous 2 tests the interceptors remained in their silos. The control system halted the firing sequence before the interceptor missile left its silo. General Obering explained these "setbacks" were due to "minor glitches" in software and workmanship by contractors that had "nothing to do with the functionality of the system." Which is a fairly complicated way of saying the system didn't work. More here


In yesterday's test (not from the Marshall Islands as previously)an interceptor from California "shot down" a test missile from Kodiak Island ,Alaska.The "test missile" was claimed to represent in speed, size and other characteristics the Taepodong 2 North Korean long-range mu;tiple stage missile, which ignominiously plopped into the Sea of Japan in a much heralded test firing in July this year.

This was said Lt. Gen. Henry A. Obering III, the director of the Missile Defense Agency, “ ..... a huge step in terms of our systematic approach to continuing to field, continuing to deploy and continuing to develop a missile defense system.”

In the real world, ICBM's are designed to rain down in fleets (From China and Russia not the DPRK) , they have a massive array of decoy features, multiple war heads, and now some reach supersonic speeds. Not one duff DDPRK firecracker.

Rummy was as ever peddling his Polyannerish views...“Successful tests such as these increase confidence in the approach to developing an initial missile defense capability,” he boasted.

"While today’s test was a success, the test program is by no means complete. Tests will continue (and money poured into black holes) , some of which will be successful and some will not.”

No Nukes North have a report and pictures of Rummy in Fairbanks and the minute of booing he endured before being able to speak at the dedication on Sunday 27th of August from to a memorial to lend lease in WWII.

Pic above is from the demonstration in Fairbanks last Sunday by No Nukes North. Many more here

US / RUSSIAN NON ENTENTE CORDIALE IN FAIRBANKS

At the ceremony Rummy met Sergei Ivanov, the tough , no nonsense Defense minister of Russia, he did not directly criticize the American system, but he called for "transparency" by the Bush administration, which is supposed to mean that the Russians are woried about extensions to the present very limited network.

Ivanov is also said to have raised Russian concerns about U.S. plans to remove nuclear warheads from some Trident long-range missiles aboard submarines and replace them with conventional warheads for potential use on short notice against terrorist targets.

The Start II Treaty limited the number of Strategic nuclear missile boats to 14 . So in September 2002, Electric Boat (part of General Dynamics)were contracted to convert the USS Ohio (SSBN 726),Michigan (727), Florida (728) and Georgia (729). The submarines are being refitted with up to 154 Tomahawk TLAM (land attack) or Tactical Tomahawk (Block IV) missiles and will also be capable of conducting special operations missions with accommodation for Northrop Grumman Advanced SEAL delivery systems (ASDS), mission control centre and 102 special operations troops.

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is modifying the Trident fire control system for the Tomahawk weapon control. Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems is adapting the missile launch tubes, developing a Multiple All Up Round Canister (MAC) which will provide storage and launch of up to seven Tomahawk missiles from each of the submarine's 22 missile tubes.

USS Ohio conversion was completed in January 2006, when the ship rejoined the fleet following sea trials in December 2005. USS Florida began the SSGN conversion in July 2003 and rejoined the fleet in April 2006.The remaining two should join the fleet in 2008.

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BY THE WAY

If you were concerned about the lethality of these Ohio class Tomahawk shooting submarines you might like to know ...

Yes, Electric Boat is certified under ISO 9001, the international standard for Quality Management Systems; , the international standard for Environmental Management Systems ISO 14001,; and the international standard for Safety and Health Management Systems OHSAS 18001. In July 2003, EB was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) for implementing an Environmental Management System designed specifically for the shipbuilding and ship repair industry.

Yes, the folks in Groton who make them, work under internationally recognised standards , for, Safety , Health and the Environment.