World Tribune.com
Seminars

U.S. plans new missile defense test in July

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, June 18, 2001

WASHINGTON Ñ The United States plans another missile defense test in July in the start of a series. A second test is planned for the fall of this year.

"Our missile defense program is developing complex systems that will employ the most advanced technologies," Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronald Kadish, director of the Pentagon's Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, said.

Kadish told the House Armed Services subcommittee on Thursday that next month's test is designed to intercept and destroy incoming ballistic missiles.

The general said the next test will seek to integrate missile defense systems as well as operate satellites and radars used in tracking an incoming ballistic missile. Kadish said the United States wants to deploy a system that will defend the nation against long-range missiles fired by such countries as Iran, Iraq and North Korea.

Kadish acknowledged technical failures in the U.S. interceptor, but maintained that they can be repaired. The July test comes after two failures of the U.S. missile defense program. The last successful intercept was in July 2000.

"We expect steady progress toward success, even though we anticipate we will have test failures Ñ failures are an inevitable part of the development process."

"The problems we experienced reflected process problems in basic engineering and fabrication, not underlying flaws in core ballistic missile defense technologies or design," Kadish said.

In Gothenburg, Sweden, the European Union said it would help prevent the proliferation of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. An EU statement said members would coordinate to form a common position against proliferation.

"We are committed to contributing to the achievement of this goal," the EU statement said. "We stress the need to maintain strict enforcement of our national export controls and to reinforce the multilateral non-proliferation and export control regimes."

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