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U.S. building satellite network to monitor rogue missile programs

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Thursday, March 29, 2001

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is building a network of advanced spy satellites meant to bolster the monitoring of Iranian and North Korean missile programs said to threaten the United States.

Officials said the project could take 20 years and $25 billion. In all, up to 24 reconnaissance satellites could be built and sent into orbit.

The satellite network, officials said, is meant to improve U.S. monitoring of missile programs in such countries as Iran, Iraq and North Korea, Middle East Newsline reported. All three countries are pursuing both long-range missile projects as well as nuclear weapons. By the end of the decade, Iran and North Korea could have the capability to launch nuclear warheads that would strike the United States.

So far, the United States has six spy satellites in space and officials said that until recently the Pentagon did not deem as a high priority the monitoring of Iranian and Iraqi missile programs. With additional satellites, Iran, Iraq and North Korea could be under constant surveillance.

Officials also said that Iraq and North Korea have developed expertise in concealing troops and equipment from satellite reconnaissance. They said both countries have managed to order troop and equipment movement between satellite orbits.

Currently, satellites are said to have the capability of maintaining surveillance over an area for about 10 minutes at a time.

Key U.S. contractors are being recruited for the classified program, called Future Imagery Architecture. These include Boeing, Raytheon, Marconi and Harris. Boeing, which beat rival Lockheed Martin, is the prime contractor of the program by the National Reconnaissance Office, officials said.

Boeing was awarded a contract last year "to develop, provide launch integration and operate the nation's next generation of imagery reconnaissance satellites," an NRO statement said. No other details were disclosed.

Officials said the new satellites will be cheaper and smaller than those currently in space. They said the first satellite in the spy network would be launched in 2005.

Thursday, March 29, 2001


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