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nastyleg
09-02-2011, 07:21 PM
By David Lerman - Sep 1, 2011 1:17 PM MT


A Raytheon Co. (RTN) advanced SM-3 interceptor missile failed to hit its target over the Pacific Ocean today in its first flight test, the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency said.

The Standard Missile-3 Block IB, part of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system, was launched from the Navy cruiser USS Lake Erie early this morning, 90 seconds after a short-range ballistic missile target was launched from a range on Kauai, Hawaii.

“An intercept of the target was not achieved,” the Missile Defense Agency said in a written statement.

Today’s launch marked the first test flight for the advanced SM-3 Block IB. Defense officials will conduct an “extensive investigation” to determine the cause of the failure, the agency said.

There have been 22 successful intercepts in 27 at-sea attempts since the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense flight testing began in 2002, the agency said.

Missile Defense Agency spokesman Rick Lehner said it was too soon to say whether the test failure would delay the SM-3 program.

The Pentagon plans to buy more than 300 of the SM-3 Block IB missiles over the next five years, at a cost of $12 million to $15 million per missile, Lehner said.
Longer Range

John Patterson, a spokesman for Raytheon Missile Systems, declined to comment, referring questions to the Missile Defense Agency.

The Block IB batch of SM-3 missiles, still in development, will be an advanced version of the current Block IA production round, according to Raytheon’s website. The company said the new version “incorporates an upgraded seeker and signal processor, enabling longer range acquisition and increased threat discrimination.”

The Block IB missiles are scheduled to reach “initial operational capability” in fiscal year 2013 and be available for operations by 2015, Lehner said.

There are also plans to develop two more advanced versions of the SM-3, called the Block IIA and the Block IIB. The first Block IIA is scheduled for deployment in Europe by 2018 as both a sea-based and a land-based interceptor system, Lehner said. The Block IIB is scheduled for ground basing in Europe by 2020, he said.

To contact the reporter on this story: David Lerman in Washington at dlerman1@bloomberg.net



http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-01/raytheon-sm-3-missile-fails-to-hit-target-in-pacific-test-1-.html

MadeInRu
09-03-2011, 03:45 PM
Still not sure if it's a good idea.

Back in the days, some US president said that they're planing to build satellite based nuclear rockets.

USSR top dudes gathered commission which explained them that it's just a fairy tale and no point in building missile defense shield. Those dudes didn't listened and started this pointless project.

Result: spend billions for no good reason.

Fatal mistake of any kind missile shield is its economical incompetence. It takes a very long time to develop it, not to mention a financial black hole which it presents.

By the time it's in place, it already starting to become outdated.

Another issue is cost difference between rocket technology and counter measures. It takes 10s of millions to develop new tech to avoid shield and 100s of millions if not billions to counter those new threats.

nastyleg
09-03-2011, 09:21 PM
The infamous star wars program. I agree it has severe limitations. The upside is that this tech has given rise to other systems like the trophy system. When mounted on a vehicle it shoots down incoming RPG's and other various missiles shot by an individual.