Missile defense test fails

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By: Twisted - 2nd February 2010 at 03:48

embarrassing...

Washington (CNN) -- A U.S. missile defense test failed Sunday when a long-range missile missed its target because of radar problems.
The Defense Department said a target missile was launched from an Army test site at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands at 7:40 p.m.

Six minutes later, a second missile was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, to find the first one and destroy it.

Both missiles flew successfully, but missed each other because of a problem in the sea-based X-band radar, the department's Missile Defense Agency said.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/02/01/missile.defense.test/?hpt=T2

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By: Distiller - 2nd February 2010 at 08:26 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

That's what tests are for.

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By: HAWX ace - 2nd February 2010 at 22:04 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

150 million dollars in the water. Not bad, after all these tons of (otherwise justified) mocking for the Bulava's failures.

More: US anti-missile test of 'Iran or N Korea' attack fails (BBC)

UPDATE 1-US missile test mimicking Iran strike fails (Reuters)

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By: MadRat - 3rd February 2010 at 04:53 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Apparently the radio beacon in the warhead bus failed to transmit. Hard to shoot the fish in a barrel when you can't find the water in the barrel.

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By: sferrin - 4th February 2010 at 13:43 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

150 million dollars in the water. Not bad, after all these tons of (otherwise justified) mocking for the Bulava's failures.

Except it wasn't the missile that failed but the radar. ;)

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By: Mercurius - 4th February 2010 at 13:49 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Except it wasn't the missile that failed but the radar. ;)

“I did not say it was the SBX radar… I'm not exonerating the SBX, but I am not saying it was solely an SBX problem. Speculation is something I shouldn't be doing here. Let's find out what the data says. Let the Failure Review Board analyze it.”

Executive Director, Missile Defense Agency David Altwegg

1 February

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By: sferrin - 4th February 2010 at 14:00 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

“I did not say it was the SBX radar… I'm not exonerating the SBX, but I am not saying it was solely an SBX problem. Speculation is something I shouldn't be doing here. Let's find out what the data says. Let the Failure Review Board analyze it.”
Executive Director, Missile Defense Agency David Altwegg

1 February

I take it that information is newer than this,

""Both the target missile and ground-based interceptor performed nominally after launch. However, the sea-based X-band radar did not perform as expected," the agency said."

:confused:

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By: Mercurius - 5th February 2010 at 11:23 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

I take it that information is newer than this

Sorry, I should have made it clear – Altwegg was speaking late in the afternoon of 1 February, so his statement should be more up-to-date than the press release issues just after the test that you had quoted.