Missile defense system plan ashamed by another test letdown

Missile defense systems have been a huge item of military spending for the last thirty years. An up to date test of the only implemented system in history has failed. Missiles that intercept missiles, though a fantastic thing to have, aren’t proving very reliable. It’s perhaps the most high profile defense spending cash pit of the last three decades. There has yet to be a successful missile defense system implemented. Article resource – Missile defense system test fails off California coast by MoneyBlogNewz.

Failing again with the missile defense system

Off of California, a test of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense, or GMD, long range missile defense system happened. The Missile Defense Agency conducted this test. CNN reports that the Pentagon is just happy that the target, or incoming long range missile, and intercepting missile known as the "kill vehicle" both launched although the test didn't go as prepared since the anti-missile didn't hit the target. The Venderberg Air Force Base in California launched the interceptor as the incoming long range dummy missile was launched. This dummy missile originated from the Kwajalein Atoll within the Marshall Islands. The kill car didn't hit its target although both launched.

Success practically never happened

Eight out of the 15 targets tested have been shot down by Boeing's modern missile defense system located in both California and Alaska giving it a success rate of 53.3 %. One reason assumed for the failure of some tests is the X-Band, or the radar array used to steer interceptor missiles into targets, isn't working. This is just a theory for now though. A floating oil rig holds the X-Band array. Details about incoming targets is supposed to come from the X-Band. A previous in test in January this year also failed to hit its target. The last GMD test that was successful happened in December 2008. Numerous think that the kill car hitting the target was only by incident though.

A past full of failure

Successes in missile defenses have been few. Not many work. There have only been a few successes with all of of the systems and technologies over the years that have been developed and tested. President Reagan started the spending that has totaled to over $100 billion in the last 30 years on missile defense systems which all began with the Strategic Defense Initiative. A 100 percent success in testing has never happened with anti-missile systems.

Articles cited

CNN

edition.cnn.com/2010/US/12/15/missile.defense.fail/?hpt=T2