off-topic

Here comes something that is totally off-topic but too good not to share:

AEGIS BMD test

On Thursday, June 5, the United States successfully conducted a flight test of the sea-based AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) element. This test was undertaken jointly by the Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Navy off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii. Two interceptor missiles were used to take down the Scud-like SRBM in the final phase of its flight.

To increase the reality-level the crew of the USS Lake Erie, that was tasked to intercept the missile, was told only that the target missile would be fired sometime in the morning. The successful outcome made the skipper say: “I am suffering from post-shot euphoria.” We have to wait for the next test to see if he can be equally euphoric if only one interceptor is used to take down one missile.

The success was seen as a proof that Navy ships are capable of shooting down short-range targets in their last phase of flight using modified missiles the service already has, the military said. Originally the AEGIS system was designed as the sea-based midcourse component of the BMD systems. In 2006, the program's role was expanded to include a sea-based terminal defense effort. Rear Admiral Hicks, director of the AEGIS BMD program, said that over the next 20 months, the military plans to install terminal-phase missile interception capability on all 18 Navy ships equipped with AEGIS BMD.

Here is a brief summary for those of you who love PentagonTV:



In case you are not satisfied with the information provided there, then take a look at CBC’s Rick Mercer explaining “Ballistic Missile Defense in 30 seconds”.

Bahrain prepares against Patriot attacks

Defense Industry Daily announced that Bahrain receives the AN/TPS-59(V)3B ballistic missile defense radar system. The sale was initiated in May 2004 when a US$43.6 million contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin. The system is designed to operate with Patriot or Hawk missile batteries.

On a not too serious note: Bahrain is in dire need of such a missile defense radar. Hopefully the system will not only operate with Patriot batteries but also protect the Kingdom from those missiles: earlier this week a Patriot missile was accidentally fired from a US military base in Qatar. Luckily no one was hurt during this incident; the missile only ploughed some nearby farmland. With its range of over 80 km Bahrain is well in the range of the Patriot missiles deployed in Qatar. But not all hope is lost: Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman acknowledged that “[t]hose things are not supposed to accidentally discharge" and that "[i]t was not supposed to happen". Hooray! So neither Bahrain nor Qatar were exposed to a deliberate attack. The old Russian proverb, which is attributed to Lenin, applies also here: доверяй, но поверяй (trust, but verify).













The Patriot missile that was accidentally launched. (c) Al Jazeera