Progress on Missile Defense

NATIONAL secURITY Progress on Missile Defense Michael Sirak, "U.S. Pushes Ahead with Homeland Missile Shield," Janes Defense Weekly, August 27, 2003 (jdw.janes.com)

The United States military is well on its way to developing a system to protect the homeland from ballistic missue strikes. President

* Conducted a successful flight test of a rocket designed to boost a kill vehicle into space where it can destroy a ballistic missile by direct impact.

* Picked a location for a new seabased radar system to distinguish warheads from decoys and debris.

* Built a 25,000-mile fiber optic network to link missile defense system command posts.

The initial system, dubbed "Block 2004," will consist of six interceptors in silos based at Fort Greely in central Alaska when it first goes online. At least three destroyers and a variety of listening posts will also take part. By the end of 2004, at least one AEGIS class cruiser will be in service to intercept short- and medium-range missiles. By 2006, the MDA will upgrade other early warning radars in England and Greenland, add ten land-based interceptors and 12 destroyers, and deploy an airborne laser to track and possibly shoot down missiles. Provided that Congress and the President approve, another major upgrade would begin that year.