Topic: Ballistic Missile defense Lasers, Missiles, Sensors, layered strategy...

[Stormbringer]

AEGIS Weapon System Tracks Advanced, Separating Ballistic Missile Target

http://www.spacewar.com/news/abm-05zc.html

To date, eight Aegis destroyers have been upgraded with the LRS&T capability and two Aegis cruisers have been outfitted with the emergency engagement and LRS&T capability.
Kauai HI (SPX) Oct 06, 2005
The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System with its prototype Aegis BMD Signal Processor (Aegis BSP) successfully tracked an advanced ballistic missile target.
This test was the second at-sea tracking event for the Aegis BSP. Lockheed Martin develops the Aegis BMD Weapon System and serves as the Combat System Engineering Agent for Aegis BMD.

The Aegis SPY-1D radar aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59), augmented by the BSP, provided real-time detection, tracking and discrimination performance against a threat-representative target with a separating re-entry vehicle and countermeasures.

The test, which took place off the coast of Hawaii, was part of the Critical Measurements and Counter-Measurements Program. The program is an integral part of the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA's) test process and provides participants with the ability to reduce technical risk by testing against stressing, complex target scenarios in a controlled environment.

The MDA and the U.S. Navy are jointly developing Aegis BMD as part of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS).

Ultimately 15 Aegis destroyers and three Aegis cruisers will be outfitted with the capability to conduct Long Range Surveillance and Tracking (LRS&T) and engagement of short and medium range ballistic missile threats using the Aegis BMD Weapon System and its Standard Missile-3 (SM-3).

To date, eight Aegis destroyers have been upgraded with the LRS&T capability and two Aegis cruisers have been outfitted with the emergency engagement and LRS&T capability.

The Aegis Weapon System is the world's premier naval surface defense system and is the foundation for Aegis BMD, the primary component of the sea-based element of the United States' BMDS.

The Aegis BMD Weapon System seamlessly integrates the SPY-1 radar, the MK 41 Vertical Launching System and the SM-3 missile with its own command and control system.

It is capable of simultaneously defending against multiple advanced air, surface, subsurface and ballistic missile threats. The Aegis BMD Weapon System also integrates with the BMDS, providing cueing information to other BMDS elements.

[Stormbringer]

For Prometheus:  Multiple shoott downs of Rockets with M-THEL:

http://www.st.northropgrumman.com/media/PressKit.cfm?PressKitID=23

[Stormbringer]

http://www.defense-update.com/news/MTHEL.htm

Since the year 2000, THEL intercepted five artillery projectiles and 28 rocket targets, including the short range 122mm Katyusha type rockets fired singly and in salvos and larger, long range 160mm rockets which has twice the range of the standard katyusha. Most recently, on August 24, 2004 the system intercepted and destroyed mortar bombs, fired both single and in salvos. During the most recent test conducted on May 2004, THEL destroyed a large caliber rocket target, containing a live warhead, which was intercepted by the laser weapon. However, in late 2004 funding for the program was stopped claiming it was too bulky for army deployments. Northrop Grumman continued with development of a "relocateable" version of THEL to provide some defensive capability as part of Rocket, Artillery and Mortar Defense (RAM-D). The system's radar is already operational in Israel, providing early warning from Palestinian attacks on the the city of Shderot.

The purpose of the planned MTHEL program was to develop and test the first mobile Directed Energy weapon system capable of detecting, tracking, engaging, and defeating Rockets/Artillery/Mortars (RAM), cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. MTHEL would have been the first tactical and mobile, directed-energy weapon capable of shooting down in flight airborne targets such as rockets, cruise missiles and other weapons, protecting expeditionary forces or deployed forces as well as civilians areas targeted by such threats. The alternative "relocatable" system will be optimized to protect critical and sensitive military sites at forward area deployments. It could also provide limited area protection for population centers threatened from attack by RAM - as evident in Israel and Iraq.

THEL/ACTD program was developed for US Space & Missile Defense Command and the Israel MOD demonstration tests by TRW, now part of Northrop Grumman corp. Subcontractors for the program include Ball Aerospace and Ball Aerospace in the US and the Israeli companies: Elbit/El-Op, IAI/Elta which built the radar and fire control system, RAFAEL and Tadiran.

[Stormbringer]

HELLADS Liquid cooled Refractive index matched laser system. This will bringthe M-THEL footprint down to realistic tactical levels:

High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System (HELLADS)
Program Manager: Mr. Don Woodbury

Overview
The goal of the High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System (HELLADS) program is to develop a high-energy laser weapon system (~150 kW) with an order of magnitude reduction in weight compared to existing laser systems. With a weight goal of less than 5 kg/kW, HELLADS will enable high-energy lasers (HELs) to be integrated onto tactical aircraft and UAVs and will significantly increase engagement ranges compared to ground-based systems. This program initiative will investigate and validate a revolutionary laser design that enables a lightweight HEL weapon system. HELLADS will design, fabricate and test a prototype laser. A laboratory demonstration of key performance parameters will be performed, followed by the fabrication and testing of a subscale HEL laser. Once key weapon system parameters have been demonstrated, a full-scale 150 kW HEL weapon system will be fabricated and demonstrated. Finally, the 150 kW HEL will be integrated into a surrogate aircraft and key performance parameters will be demonstrated.

Program Plans
Conduct key technology demonstrations of resonator stability, laser gain, and system thermal performance.
Develop and test a 15 kW sub-scale HEL system.
Complete detailed design and initiate construction of 150 kW laser weapon system.
Demonstrate performance of a 150 kW HEL system in a ground test.
Integrate HEL system into surrogate aircraft.
Demonstrate performance of a 150 kW HEL system in captive flight test.
 

 

 

Last Updated 05/09/05

[Stormbringer]

The SM-3 missile has been deployed on 4 aegis class destroyers. it will be fielded on the whole inventory of ships as an end goal.


Ballistic Missile Defense Test Successful
By K.L. Vantran
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2003 – A missile launched from the Navy Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie successfully intercepted a ballistic missile target over the Pacific Ocean, Navy and Missile Defense Agency officials said here Dec. 11. The target was fired from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Hawaii's oldest island, Kauai.

 An SM-3 is launched from the Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie as part of the Missile Defense Agency's latest Ballistic Missile Defense System test to defeat a medium-range ballistic missile threat. The missile, part of the Aegis Weapon System, intercepted a target launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on the Hawaiian island of Kauai Dec. 11. This was the fourth successful intercept for Aegis BMD and SM-3. The test included evaluation of the long-range surveillance and tracking capabilities of two Navy ships as well as effective communications between the ships and command and control units. Navy photo. (Click photo for screen- resolution image); high-resolution image available.

"This test was the next step in integrating Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense into the Ballistic Missile Defense System," said Chris Taylor, Missile Defense Agency spokesman.

The test of the Standard Missile-3, or SM-3, was the fourth of a six-flight series to develop a sea-based defense against short- to medium-range ballistic missiles. It involved detecting and tracking an Aries medium-range target missile.

A primary objective of this test, according to a DoD news release, was to evaluate the performance of long-range surveillance and track support from an Aegis cruiser and destroyer team that has the potential for use with a number of different missile defense elements. This includes the ground-based midcourse defense, which is designed to protect the United States against long-range ballistic missiles.

The target was launched at 8:10 a.m. Hawaiian Standard Time and was intercepted about four minutes later at an altitude of 137 kilometers with a closing speed of about 3.7 kilometers per second, said Taylor.

The Aegis destroyer, USS Russell which sailed closer to Kauai, used its Aegis system to detect the target and fed the information to the USS Lake Erie. The Lake Erie also used its Aegis system. Within two minutes after target launch, the Aegis Weapon System fired the SM-3 guided missile. About two minutes later, the missile's kinetic warhead acquired, tracked and diverted the target, using only the force of the direct collision to destroy the target – "hit to kill" technology. This was the fourth successful intercept for Aegis BMD and SM-3.

Program officials said they will evaluate data compiled from the test and incorporate changes as required.

Taylor said future tests would use increasingly complex, stressing, ballistic missile engagement scenarios and greater use of operational-like procedures.

Aegis is at sea in more than 65 U.S. cruisers and destroyers and in four Japanese destroyers. More than 20 additional U.S. Aegis destroyers are in the production and planning cycle.

The Missile Defense Agency, in cooperation with the Navy, manages the Aegis BMD Program. Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors, Moorestown, N.J., is the combat system engineering agent and prime contractor for the Aegis weapon system and vertical launch system installed in Aegis cruisers and destroyers. Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., is the prime contractor for the SM-3 missile.

[Stormbringer]

Airborne Laser System:  http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/abl/ctr.html

[Stormbringer]

ABL YAL 1A AIRBORNE LASER, USA

http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/redir?src=websearch&requestId=16f71454225ff067&clickedItemRank=9&userQuery=airborne+laser&clickedItemURN=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.airforce-technology.com%2Fprojects%2Fabl%2F&title=Air+Force+Technology+-+ABL+YAL+1A+-+Airborne+Laser


The US Air Force Airborne Laser, (ABL), designated YAL-1A, is a high energy laser weapon system for the destruction of tactical theatre ballistic missiles, which is carried on a modified Boeing 747-400F freighter aircraft. The ABL is being developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory and Team ABL, comprising Boeing, TRW (now Northrop Grumman Space Technologies) and Lockheed Martin. Boeing is responsible for program management, systems integration, battle management system and modification of the 747-400F aircraft. TRW Inc is building the laser systems. Lockheed Martin Space Systems is responsible for the target acquisition and beam control systems. The US Missile Defense Agency (previously called the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization) is responsible for the management of the program and it is executed by the USAF from Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

In 1996, the Department of Defense awarded Team ABL a $1.1 billion Program Definition and Risk Reduction (PDRR) contract for the development and test of an Airborne Laser weapon system. During tests at TRW's Capistrano Test Site in 1998, the laser demonstration module achieved a power level 10% higher than the requirement. In April 2000 the ABL final critical design review was completed.

Modification of the aircraft, involving installation of the turret in the aircraft's nose and modifications to accept the laser, optics and computer hardware, was completed in May 2002. In July 2002, the modified aircraft took the first of a series of test flights. After receiving airworthiness certification, the aircraft was flown to Edwards Air Force Base, California, in December 2002, for the installation of systems. The aircraft returned to airworthiness flight testing in December 2004 following installation of the beam control / fire control system. In May 2005 the aircraft will be fitted with the two illuminator lasers. In November 2004 all six modules of the COIL laser were successfully fired for the first time. The COIL laser is to be installed in late 2005. The first prototype is scheduled for completion in 2006. A second system is being considered for 2008.

ABL SYSTEMS

The ABL aircraft carries the COIL laser which generates the killer laser beam, an infrared surveillance and high speed target acquisition system and a high precision laser target tracking beam control system.

The laser weapon uses three laser beam systems: the powerful killing laser beam or primary beam, a set of illuminating laser beams and a beacon laser. The primary laser beam is generated by a megawatt chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL) located at the rear of the fuselage, which lases at 1.315 micron wavelength. The high power laser beam travels towards the front of the aircraft through a pipe. The pipe passes through a Station 1000 bulkhead/airlock, which separates the rear fuselage from the forward cabins. The high power beam passes through the fine beam control system mounted on a vibration isolated optical bench. Beam pointing is achieved with very fast, lightweight steering mirrors, which are tilted to follow the target missile.

A low power, multiple beam, track illuminating laser (TILL), being developed by Raytheon Electronic Systems, is used to determine the target's range and provides initial information on the atmosphere through which the beam is being transmitted. The illuminating laser tracks the target and provides aiming data for the primary beam.

The Beacon Illuminating Laser (BILL) has been developed by Northrop Grumman Space Technology. The kilowatt class BILL reflects light from the target to provide data on the rapidly changing characteristics of the atmosphere along the path of the laser beam. This data is used to control a set of deformable mirrors in the beam control system. The mirrors introduce tailored distortions into the COIL laser beam to compensate for atmospheric distortions and allow the COIL laser beam to fall on the target.

OPERATION

The ABL is designed to detect and destroy theatre ballistic missiles in the powered boost phase of flight immediately after missile launch. The aircraft loiters at an altitude of 40,000 feet. Missile launch is detected by a reconnaissance system such as satellite or Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft and threat data is transmitted to the ABL aircraft by Link 16 communications. A suite of infrared, wide-field telescopes installed along the length of the aircraft's fuselage detects the missile plume at ranges up to several hundred km.

The pointing and tracking system tracks the missile and provides launch and predicted impact locations. The turret at the nose of the aircraft swivels towards the target and a 1.5 metre telescope mirror system inside the nose focuses the laser beam onto the missile. The laser beam is locked onto the missile, which is destroyed near its launch area within seconds of lock-on. Where the missile carries liquid fuel, the laser can heat a spot on the missile's fuel tank, causing an increase in internal pressure resulting in catastrophic failure. Alternatively, the missile is heated in an arc around its circumference and crumples under atmospheric drag force or its own G-force.

 Click here for printable version


SPECIFICATIONS
Last updated 25 January 2005

[Stormbringer]

Space based laser. I have reason to believe this went black budget and at least four birds are on orbit:

http://www.fas.org/spp/starwars/program/sbl.htm

[Stormbringer]

THe Ground Based Interceptor operational at Ft Greely Alaska:

 Ninth Boeing Ground-based Midcourse Defense Interceptor Emplaced

http://www.spacewar.com/news/abm-05s.html

The Boeing Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) team uses a special crane to lift and lower the ninth GMD ground-based interceptor into its underground silo at the Fort Greely, Alaska GMD Site. GMD is the nation's first line of defense against an enemy ballistic missile attack. There currently are seven interceptors in silos at Fort Greely and two interceptors at the GMD Site at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Photo Credit: Ramsey Pryce.
St Louis MO (SPX) Sep 22, 2005
The Boeing Ground Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program team and the Missile Defense Agency emplaced the ninth GMD interceptor in its underground silo at Fort Greely, Alaska on Sept. 18.
The operation involved the use of a special crane to lower the interceptor into the silo. This is the seventh interceptor emplaced at the Fort Greely Site. Two interceptors also were emplaced at the GMD Site at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., in 2004.

The GMD system consists of integrated ground-based interceptors, a variety of sensors and an expansive battle management command, control and communications network, capable of protecting the homeland from a limited long-range ballistic missile attack.

"The continued emplacement of interceptors at Fort Greely expands our missile defense capability and further expands the protection of the nation against the ballistic missile threat," said Missile Defense Systems vice president and general manager Pat Shanahan.

"GMD is one of the most complex programs this country has ever undertaken and our steady progress increases the flexibility and reach of this true system-of-systems."

As prime contractor for the GMD program, Boeing is responsible for the development and integration of the GMD system components, including the ground-based interceptor; ground-based radar prototype; Sea-based X-Band Radar, battle management, command, control and communication systems; early warning radars; and interfaces to the Defense Support Program early warning satellite system. Other GMD team members include Orbital Sciences, Raytheon, Northrop-Grumman and Lockheed Martin.

[Stormbringer]

Cobra Dane X band Radar Test

http://www.aksuperstation.com/artman/publish/article_718.shtml

Shemya Radar Put to the Test
By AP
Sep 27, 2005, 07:00:00

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Radar on Shemya Island in the Aleutians has been put to the test as part of efforts to develop a national missile defense system. The Cobra Dane radar Monday successfully tracked a target missile launched from an airplane over the Pacific Ocean 800 miles to the southwest. The military has upgraded the Cobra Dane radar in recent years to help detect any incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles. The Missile Defense Agency says the Cobra Dane radar's data on the mock enemy missile helped create a "firing solution" that went to operation centers at Fort Greely, 100 miles southeast of Fairbanks, and at Colorado Springs, Colorado. No interceptor launch was planned as part of the test. Fort Greely now has seven interceptors designed to shoot down any real incoming missiles. Top of Page

[Stormbringer]

Sea based X band laser already either enroute to ar at it's base. i remember it going out to sea earlier this year to go around south america and up to alaska.

http://www.boeing.com/ids/allsystemsgo/issues/vol3/num2/story04.html

[Sirgod]

And Damn time too Re: all of Storms threads...

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Try=No&Page=\ForeignBureaus\archive\200509\FOR20050929b.html

New Russian Ballistic Missiles Are 'Unrivaled,' Putin Says
By Sergei Blagov
CNSNews.com Correspondent
September 29, 2005

Moscow (CNSNews.com) - The Kremlin hopes new weapons systems, including a sea-launched intercontinental ballistic missile successfully tested this week, will help restore Russia's geopolitical prominence.

The new-generation Bulava missile was launched Tuesday from a Northern Fleet strategic nuclear submarine in the White Sea, flying to a firing range on the Kamchatka peninsula, 12 time zones to the east.

The solid-fuel missile can carry up to ten individually guided nuclear warheads and has a range of up to 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles).

Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov Wednesday hailed the successful test, saying the armed forces would deploy the new weapon by the end of 2007.

Bulava missiles have been designed for Russia's new Borey-class nuclear submarines, two of which are being built and will be commissioned in 2006 and 2007.

The test-launch came on the same day as President Vladimir Putin used a live call-in television show to tout Russia's new strategic missile systems.

"We are developing and will provide the army with new high-precision strategic missile systems that are unique and unlikely to appear earlier in any other country," he said.

Putin described the new missiles as "hypersonic and capable of changing course and height during flight." They would have "no rivals" and be "practically invulnerable," he added.

Moscow has long stressed that it has the capability to overwhelm a U.S. missile defense umbrella due to the size of its ballistic missile arsenal.

After President Bush pulled out of the 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty in order to pursue the missile defense program, Russia announced it was no longer bound by previous agreements that prohibited missiles with multiple warheads.

Having multiple warheads would reduce a weapon's vulnerability to missile defense systems which are designed to intercept and destroy one warhead at a time.

The missile developments are the latest indication of Putin's efforts to stress Russia's continuing military capabilities, 14 years after the Soviet Union disintegrated.

Last fall, Russia said it planned to develop nuclear weapons which other nuclear powers did not yet have and were unlikely to develop.

In February 2004, Russia said it successfully tested a new strategic supersonic system allowing altitude and course maneuvering of long-range missiles, to avoid U.S. defenses.

In October 2003, Putin said Russia retained the right to deliver preemptive military strikes.

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Stephen thinking to himself, Damn, I wish I was still in service.

[Stormbringer]

Those russian doofuses think an advanced ICBM with evasive maneuvers can thwart missile defense? if you look one of the articles i posted shows we can still track discriminate targets from decoys and kill them. they just wasted a lot of money on that one! Putin on the putz!

[Stormbringer]

As I said in another thread a rocket can only maneuver so much and even if it could jiggle the whole trip -a Laser optic can deflect a thousanth of a mil at the source and move for thousands of meters at the target. erratic maneuvers are futile.

[Javora]

Putin described the new missiles as "hypersonic and capable of changing course and height during flight." They would have "no rivals" and be "practically invulnerable," he added.

Moscow has long stressed that it has the capability to overwhelm a U.S. missile defense umbrella due to the size of its ballistic missile arsenal.

Oh Wow, they have the power to incinerate the planet just like we do.  Well if they push the button I hope they enjoy their 15 minutes of fame.  Because that is about all the time anyone will have lift on this world.  Thanks for all the fish.      

[Stormbringer]

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/abl/mission.html

This link show the unclassified portion of the layered defense concept. it used to show the SBL but it was discovered that it accidentally revealed classified information and was modified.

[Stormbringer]

The Space Based infrared sensor system:

http://www.missilethreat.com/systems/sbirs_high_usa.html

Space-Based Infrared System-High (SBIRS-High)


Country:  USA
Basing:  Space
Status:  Development
In Service:  Exp. 2007


Details

The Space-Based Infrared System-High (SBIRS-High) program will consist of high-orbiting infrared satellites designed to detect and track ballistic missiles of all sizes. Once operational, SBIRS-High will function 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, and in all types of weather. It will replace the current Defense Support Program (DSP) satellites, which have provided early missile warning information for more than 30 years.

In the 1980s when laying the groundwork for its missile defense shield, the Pentagon realized that if it wanted to provide an effective defense against ballistic missile attack, it needed to create a quick and efficient method of detecting and tracking enemy launches. In other words, it needed to build a constellation of infrared satellites that would serve as the watchtower for the entire Ballistic Missile Defense System.

After experimenting with several models, the U.S. Air Force in 1996 decided to create a “system of systems” to accomplish this Herculean task. It began work on a constellation of “high” and “low” infrared satellites. SBIRS-High was to consist of six large satellites deployed 22,000 miles above the Earth. Its counterpart, SBIRS-Low, was to include 20-30 smaller satellites in low-earth orbit roughly 621 to 930 miles above the Earth.

In 2001, SBIRS-Low was transferred to the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and in 2002 was renamed the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS). Scheduled for launch in 2007, STSS will be capable of tracking enemy missiles against the cold background of space and observing targets with great detail. Meanwhile, the Air Force is continuing to develop SBIRS-High. At present, Lockheed Martin is its prime contractor and manages the SBIRS-High team that includes Northrop Grumman.

Once deployed, SBIRS-High will be able to detect an enemy missile just after it has been launched; track the missile as it progresses along its flight path; figure out the exact moment at which the missile deploys its nuclear, chemical, or biological warhead; and provide reliable data to defense systems (air, land, sea, or space) for their attack on the incoming warhead. The system will consist of four primary satellites in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO), two spacecraft carrying infrared sensors in Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO), and a Mission Control Station (MCS) located on the ground. The Air Force plans to acquire a fifth GEO satellite to be launched if necessary.

As envisioned, the four GEO satellites will rotate at the same speed as the Earth and will take 24 hours to make one full orbit. In doing so, they will keep a fixed position around the equator and maintain their “geosynchronous” nature. The two HEO spacecraft will orbit the poles in elliptical patterns at different speeds than the Earth, thus enhancing the GEO satellites’ field of vision. Infrared sensors on the spacecraft will identify heat sources and denote them as points on a map (unlike DSP, which produces images of potential threats). The sensors will be able to detect objects that are much cooler and dimmer than those currently tracked by DSP satellites, thus increasing the overall effectiveness of SBIRS-High and the entire missile defense shield.

SBIRS-High sensors will also include “scanning” and “staring” elements. In a typical combat scenario, the “scanning” sensors will detect a missile launch, and the “staring” sensors will lock on to the missile itself and transmit detailed data to the Mission Control Station. DSP satellites, which only have scanning sensors, currently take 40-50 seconds to detect a missile launch and determine its course. SBIRS-High, on the other hand, will take only 10-20 seconds to accomplish this task plus relay this information to the ground.

The Mission Control Station, located at Buckley Air Force Base in Colorado, will integrate SBIRS-High with the rest of the MDA’s Ballistic Missile Defense System, most notably the Space Tracking and Surveillance System. MCS will replace the three existing DSP control centers. Once operational, it will be able to warn the Pentagon of enemy missile launches almost twice as fast as DSP.

Despite the myriad advantages of SBIRS-High, the program is currently experiencing cost overruns and scheduling delays. In 2001, the Pentagon reported to Congress that SBIRS-High was in violation of the Nunn-McCurdy law, which outlines specific guidelines for defense programs that exceed initial cost estimates by more than 25 percent. In 2002, SBIRS-High was restructured to address the specific problems that led to the Nunn-McCurdy breach, but cost overruns and scheduling delays still hamper the program. According to the Air Force, SBIRS-High will run approximately $1 billion over budget through 2013. This raises the total cost of the program to nearly $10 billion.

All the same, Congress remains supportive of SBIRS-High and its essential role in U.S. ballistic missile defense. In May 2004, the Senate and House Armed Services Committees each added $35 million to the program. The first SBIRS-High satellite launch is currently scheduled for 2007.

Sources

Butler, Amy. “SBIRS High Needs Another $1 Billion, Raising Total Closer To $10 Billion Mark.” C4I News, 29 April 2004.
Di Pasquale, Cynthia. “Senate Armed Services Shows Strong Support For Space Programs.” Inside the Air Force, 14 May 2004.
Federation of American Scientists.
Gambrell, Kathy. “SBIRS-High To Launch In 2007, Teets Says.” Aerospace Daily, 26 February 2004.
Kenyon, Henry S. “Restructured Satellite Program Aims for Liftoff.” Signal, 1 March 2004.
Lockheed Martin Corporation, SBIRS-High Description.
Lockheed Martin Corporation, SBIRS-High Press Release, 7 January 2002.
Lockheed Martin Corporation, SBIRS-High Press Release, 18 June 2001.
Lockheed Martin Corporation, SBIRS-High Press Release, 10 September 2001.
Perera, David. “Air Force Confirms SBIRS High Cost Growth, Satellite Launch Delays.” Homeland Defense Watch, 3 May 2004.
Spaceflight Now.
Selinger, Marc. “SBIRS-High Cost Estimate May Rise Again.” Aerospace Daily, 27 February 2004.
Smith, Marcia S. “Military Space Programs: Issues Concerning DOD’s SBIRS and STSS Programs.” Congressional Research Service, Report No. RS21148, 3 November 2003.
U.S. General Accounting Office. “Defense Acquisitions: Despite Restructuring, SBIRS High Program Remains At Risk Of Cost And Schedule Overruns.” GAO-04-48, 31 October 2003.


SBIRS Profiled
January 17, 2005 :: Defense News :: News
The Space Based Infrared System High program, critical to detecting and tracking ballistic missile launches for any interception attempt, is profiled by Defense News.

        The SBIRS High program will consist of four satellites, placed at geostationary orbits, monitoring the surface for heat indicative of explosions or a missile launch. The program has faced considerable delays, funding problems, and opposition, but the first satellite is scheduled for launch in 2007. The SBIRS program is said to be 60% faster and twice as accurate as the existing Defense Support Program satellites, of which there are 22, currently in operation, and will serve a broader number of purposes. (Article, Link)

» More stories on: Space-Based Systems and Detection and Tracking

[Stormbringer]

So the layered defense consists of Patriot PAC III, THAAD, SM-3 and 4, ABL, M-THEL or HELLADS like lasers, Greely GBI, SBL, and a multitude of advanced sensors. Several elements are now deployed. the rest are under development and testing.

[Capt_Bearslayer_XC]

Um... if the M-THEL is doing so well... is it being used in Iraq for live tests?

[Stormbringer]

Um... if the M-THEL is doing so well... is it being used in Iraq for live tests?

The MTHEL is not going to be fielded. it is because of it's huge footprint suited only for defense of critical fixed assets. it's follow ons like HELLADS are more suited for the sort of thing you mentioned but it is just being built. However, the Israelis who cooperated in the M-THEL project are planning on using the M-THEL along with the simlar but missile based Arrow II in their homeland.