U.S. plans new missile defense test in July
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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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