ADA Today
Daily Updated Links to Air and Missile Defense Articles From News Media Websites

Tuesday
31 March 2009
Obama to Seek Arms Control Treaty
President Obama plans to launch negotiations to draft a new arms control treaty that would slash the American and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals by about a third.

US Goals 'Toxic Assets'
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that President Obama should back off of US plans for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe and should not support NATO expansion to include former Soviet bloc countries.

North Korea Threatens War Against Japan Over Missile
North Korea vows to wage war against Japan if Japanese defense forces try to shoot down a communications satellite.

Last Delta Flight
Today is Delta's last flight out of Lawton-Fort Sill. American Eagle is left to fill in the gaps.

Monday
30 March 2009
Missile Defense Agency Wants 'Golf Ball,' Other Assets Used
A US missile defense advocacy group urges the Pentagon to deploy "all available" defensive assets in the Pacific

Forward Observer: Missile Guidance
The Pentagon's expensive pursuit of the Holy Grail of a perfect missile defense is expected to slow down.

Cuts Could Affect Missile Defense Testing
Most observers believe the Missile Defense Agency will face cutbacks of $2 billion, a fifth of the annual missile defense portfolio.

Tinker, Others to Get $74M in Stimulus Funds
In the midst of a construction boom to accommodate the Air Defense Artillery School  —Fort Sill will get more than $9 million for projects aimed at modernizing health care facilities.

Korean War Hero's Name to Adorn $200M Training Course
The first major training course in a $200-million range improvement plan at Fort Bliss will be dedicated to a Medal of Honor recipient and for uncommon valor during the Korean War.

Sunday
29 March 2009
Obama to Seek NATO Support for Afghanistan Plan
Looming over the Prague meeting will be the issue of missile defense.

No Trade-Off with US on Missile Defense
Moscow would increase pressure on Iran in exchange for the US retreat from plans to deploy missile defense elements in Eastern Europe.

Missile Defense:
A Priority
The US must continue to fund a multi-layered missile defense system that will supplement our armed forces.

Saturday
28 March 2009
Fort Bliss: Area Caves Ready Soldiers for Terrain
US Soldiers are crawling through caves on Fort Bliss, preparing to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Czech Missile Defense Opponents Cheer
Czech opponents of US plans to deploy a missile defense radar in their country, hailed the collapse of the government this week as vindication for their cause.

Friday
27 March 2009
Obama Unveils Afghan Plan to Add Troops and Set Goals
President Obama said on Friday that he plans to further bolster American forces in Afghanistan.

Standard Missile-2 Demonstration
A Raytheon missile intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile target at the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division.

Japan Prepares For North Korea Missile Launch
On Friday the Japanese government ordered two missile-equipped destroyers to the Sea of Japan and sent batteries of Patriot missile interceptors to protect the northern coastline.

Israel Successfully Tests Anti-Rocket System
Israel has successfully tested a high-tech system designed to protect civilians from rocket attacks.

Thursday
26 March 2009
BRAC Growth Booming at Fort Sill
About 1,500 new soldiers and civilians already have relocated to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as part of changes associated with the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, and about 900 more are expected to arrive this summer.

Area Military Projects Get $36M in Stimulus
Military facilities in El Paso and New Mexico will receive nearly $36 million in federal funding for a variety of projects expected to stimulate the regional economy.

HIMARS Launcher Fires Air Defense Missile
Lockheed Martin's High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System launcher successfully fired two Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles during an Army "common launcher" feasibility demonstration at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

Clinton Promises US Support for Poland
While avoiding promises to deploy US missile defenses in Poland and the Czech Republic, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton  reassure Warsaw that the United States will meet defense obligations to NATO Allies.

Harvard Defense Expert to Fight Pentagon Cost Overruns
The bill for the Defense Department's 95 major weapon procurement programs now totals $295 billion over their original budgets.

Are US Missile Defenses Geared for the Wrong Missiles?
"Ballistic missiles are about as passe as e-mail," said the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Marine General James Cartwright.

North Korean Missile Reportedly in Place
Spy satellites detected what looked to be a Taepodong-2 missile in place.

Pentagon Report: China's Missile Development "Shifting Balance
China's military is developing longer-range ballistic and anti-ship missiles a report released by the Pentagon said.

Wednesday
25 March 2009
New Name for "Global War On Terror"
The Obama administration appears to be backing away from the phrase Global War on Terror, and replacing it with  "Overseas Contingency Operation."

Anti-Aircraft Battalion To Be Deployed Near Gaza
The Israel Air Force is now establishing a new anti-aircraft battalion whose task will be to test the Iron Dome anti-ballistic missile system.

Indian Missile Defense: Success Too Soon?
A ballistic missile blasted off from a warship sailing in the Bay of Bengal, its target a small enclave of land off the coast, one of India's most important missile testing facilities.

Nuclear Dealing
Unless cooler heads prevail, Congress will soon receive the first civilian nuclear cooperation agreement of the Obama administration.

Seoul, China Meet on North Korea Missile
In an effort to defuse tensions over the rocket launch General Chen Bingde of China's People's Liberation Army, met with his South Korean counterpart.

Missile Defense On NATO List
NATO foreign ministers will meet with their Russian counterparts before summer and missile defense should be on the agenda.

Clinton Seeks to Reassure Poland on Missile Shield
Obama administration sends signals that it intends to give up missile defense in Europe as part of a security deal with Russia

Tuesday
24 March 2009
The Hidden Killers Of US Troops
IEDs are cheap to build, easy to deploy, and as deadly as the most technologically advanced battlefield weapon.

Japan Expresses Doubts Over Missile Defense
North Korea plans to launch a communications satellite, but Japan and its allies fear that is a ruse to disguise the testing of a long-range missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

Levin Moves to Cut Waste, Fraud and Abuse from Missile Programs
Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) put the hammer down on the Missile Defense Agency this week -- diplomatic but forceful, Levin said the lax policies of the Bush administration were over.

Congress Continues Criticism of US Missile Defense System in Europe
Two key members of Congress raised questions about the US missile defense plan for Europe, saying that the system is untested and would not protect key American interests from an attack by Iran.

North Korea Reasserts Right to Satellite Launch
North Korea warned the United States, Japan and their allies not to interfere with its plan to launch a satellite into space.

Cartwright Sees Missile Defense Shifting
The vice-chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff  envisions the future mission for missile defense shifting from protecting the homeland to protecting US troops deployed overseas, as well as allies and friends.

Monday
23 March 2009
Congress Continues Criticism of US Missile Defense System in Europe
Two key members of Congress raised questions about the US missile defense plan for Europe, saying that the system is untested and would not protect key American interests from an attack by Iran.

Raytheon Awarded Contract for Missile Defense Support
Raytheon Company has was awarded a $27 million contract to support the Ground Based Midcourse Defense program.

US Military Pacific Commanders Make Case for Missile Defense
Chairman of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, reports on the testimony of the US Military Pacific Commanders.

Hard Times Are Good Times For Uncle Sam
The recession has been a boon for Army recruiters, who have seen better results in recent months than they have in years.

Friday
20 March 2009
US Could Hit North Korean Missile
There is a "high probability" that the United States could knock down a North Korean missile aimed at this country.

Patriot Batteries May Shift North
Japan may shift Patriot missile batteries to its northern coast to intercept debris that might be created if North Korea's rocket launch fails.

US Conducts "Intense Review" of Missile Defense Plans for Europe
The US Defense Department is taking a hard look at plans to deploy missile defenses in Eastern Europe as it finalizes its budget proposal for fiscal 2010.

Thursday
19 March 2009
US Commanders Say Ready for North Korea Missile
The United States could intercept a North Korean missile launched toward US territory.

Advances Made on Electric Laser
An electric laser with enough power to shoot down enemy missiles and drones has been developed.

Russia Voices Hope for Ending Missile Defense Rift
Russia and the United States have a good chance to end their divisive dispute over missile defenses in Europe.

Northrop Grumman to Highlight `Strategic Flexibility' At Missile Defense Conference
Northrop Grumman Corporation will highlight capabilities that add strategic mobility and flexibility to the nation's layered missile defense system.

18 March 2009
Soaring Costs Jeopardize Missile Defense Systems
The national missile defense programs could have cost overruns of $2 to $3 billion, reinforcing expectations that they will be subject to cuts by the Obama administration.

6th ADA Brigade Soldiers Intercept Ballistic Missile
A THAAD missile intercepted a ballistic missile target during a test at the Pacific Missile Range off the island of Kauai in Hawaii.

Pentagon to Stop Forced Tour Extensions
The Army will substantially reduce use of the unpopular practice of holding troops beyond their enlistment dates and will pay $500 to those still forced to stay.

Veterans Groups Denounce Private Insurance Proposal
An Obama administration proposal to bill veterans' private insurance companies for treatment of combat-related injuries has prompted veterans groups to condemn the idea as unethical

The Risks of a Missile Defenseless Europe
The Czech government postponed a parliamentary vote on a deal to place an American missile defense installation on Czech soil.

17 March 2009
Phalanx Gun May Be Best Defense Against Hamas Rockets
Phalanx is vastly more flexible than experimental laser systems.

Technology Improves Security for Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan
The Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment System has been continually upgraded since elements were first deployed in Iraq.

'Honor and Remember' Vet Dies
Baker was injured while serving as a firefighter in Kuwait during the Gulf War when a Scud missile struck his barracks.

Missile Defense Hard To Evaluate: GAO
 The U.S. Government Accountability Office says it still can’t assess the missile defense system’s overall performance.

Israel Could Use Ballistic Missiles Against Iran: Report
Ballistic missiles could be Israel's weapon of choice against Iranian nuclear facilities if it decides on a pre-emptive attack and deems air strikes too risky.

U.S. Air Force Accepts First Delivery of Raytheon Miniature Air Launched Decoy
U.S. Air Force accepts delivery of Raytheon Company's first Miniature Air-Launched Decoy low-rate initial production unit.

Pentagon Puts Controversial Personnel Plan on Hold
The Pentagon stops moving civilian employees from the traditional General Schedule employee classification structure to the controversial National Security Personnel System.

16 March 2009
Israeli Bureaucrats Never Gave Phalanx an Even Break
The Americans were convinced from their own highly successful experience using the Phalanx in Iraq that the weapon could do the job of defending the Israeli towns targeted by the Qassams.

US Shot Down Iranian UAV Over Iraq
A US military spokesman confirmed today multi-role fighters  shot down an unmanned Iranian aircraft in Iraqi airspace last month.

Aerial Ambush
Third successful test put India in exclusive club with the US, Russia and Israel, which are developing their own ballistic missile defense systems.

Bracing for a Bailout Backlash
Obama administration concerned about populist backlash against banks and Wall Street.

Reports Question US Shield of Europe
After more than $100 billion spent to develop a U.S. missile defense, an American-operated system proposed for Europe would cost billions more to deploy and still may fail.

Raytheon's Readies Space-Based ''Super-Sensor'' for Missile Launch Warning
Raytheon completes performance tests on an infrared missile-warning sensor that will scan an entire hemisphere from a single space-based telescope.

Obama's Defense Budget Offsets Ring Hollow
Every system that we are buying now or plan to buy has been justified  based on “future requirements” not refighting the last war. Missile defense is a case in point.

15 March 2009
Missile Defense Scientists Shoot Down Mosquitoes With Lasers
A quarter-century ago, American rocket scientists proposed the "Star Wars" defense system to knock Soviet missiles from the skies with laser beams. Some of the same scientists are now aiming their lasers at another airborne threat: the mosquito.

Missile Creep
Compared with land-based missile defense, Aegis has the advantage of proximity.

Pentagon Rethinking Old Two-Wars Doctrine
Protracted wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are forcing the Obama administration to rethink what for more than two decades has been a central premise of American strategy: that the nation need only prepare to fight two major wars at a time.

Report: Cuba, Venezuela Could Host Russian Bombers
Russia could use bases for its strategic bombers on the doorstep of the United States in Cuba and Venezuela to underpin long-distance patrols in the region.

14 March 2009
Russia's Strategic Bombers May Use Cuban Airfields
Russia expressed interest in using Cuban airfields during patrol missions of its strategic bombers.

Iron Dome Dreams Prevented Israel From Defending Sderot
Israel's Iron Dome very-short-range anti-ballistic missile defense system is skyrocketing way over cost and is still years from effective deployment. So why doesn't Israel buy America's tried and tested Phalanx super machine gun to do the job instead?

US Navy Air and Missile Defense Command
The U.S. Navy is establishing an Air and Missile Defense Command, to concentrate on its growing success in developing and deploying anti-missile systems.

13 March 2009
For Bliss Museum Shifts From Air Defense to Armored Weaponry
The eventual departure of Fort Bliss' Air Defense Artillery School to Fort Sill, Okla., will not mean an absence of museum pieces honoring the branch and its soldiers.

Air Defense Crews Complete Patriot Portability Drills
Packing and moving an entire Patriot missile system is difficult in the best conditions. But 5-7 ADA soldiers were doing it in less than an hour, in the pelting snow and rain, even as their vehicles mired in thickening mud.

What's Wrong With Israel's Iron Dome ABM Defense System?
Iron Dome is now months, possibly years behind schedule, and critics say the very assumptions it was based on were unsustainable from the very start.

Japan Warns It Might Shoot Down North Korean Missile
Japan strongly protested North Korea's planned rocket launch, warning Friday it could shoot it down after the North said it would fly over Japan.

Pentagon Tempted by North Korean Launch
To Pentagon planners, the image of counter-missile missiles firing away at the Taepodong-2 as it arcs over the northern Japanese island of Honshu is compelling if not irresistible.

Evaluating North Korean Missile Threat
Even if the launch is successful, it would only indicate that the missile might be capable of reaching Alaska, Hawaii or other outlying U.S. territories.

Pentagon Plans Blimp to Spy from New Heights
Pentagon intends to  develop a giant dirigible that will float 65,000 feet above the Earth for 10 years, providing unblinking and intricate radar surveillance of the vehicles, planes and even people below.

Collaboration of Space and Missile Defense Research
Boeing and Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command are working together to coordinate and fuse multiple types of sensor data for Integrated Air and Missile Defense.

U.S. Jet Shoots Down Iranian Drone Over Iraq (Updated)
Iran has built an array of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Scientist's New Missile Defense: Killer Drones
MIT professor has proposed what he describes as a more politically palatable way of delivering missile defense: putting the interceptors on long-haul drones instead of parking them in the ground.
 
China "Worried" About US Treasury Holdings
China's premier expressed concern Friday about its massive holdings of Treasuries and other U.S. debt, appealing to Washington to safeguard their value

12 March 2009
U.S. Jet Shoots Down Iranian Drone Over Iraq
An American fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone as it was flying over Iraq, according to U.S. military sources.
 
3-3 ADA Deploys
New unit will conduct Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar missions in Southwest Asia.

Defensible Missile Defense
There is a “designer” missile defense that would answer President Obama’s hesitations and allay Russia’s fears. And unlike the Bush missile defense, it would actually be able to deal with the threat of ballistic missile attacks from North Korea and Iran if such a threat ever emerged.

E-Bombs Could Go Mainstream
E-bombs, weapons that destroy electronics with an intense pulse of electromagnetic radiation, could target air defense systems.

North Korea Gives Notice of April Rocket Launch
Media reported last week that Japan and the United States might try to intercept any ballistic missile launched by the North.

Growing Threat of Ballistic Missiles Drives Agency's Efforts
New Missile Defense Agency director says Aegis, THAAD  the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Program, Patriot, the Navy's SM3s, and other systems have "unique performance" functions" in air and missile defense architecture.

Poland Hopes to Complete US Missile Shield Talks in April
Poland hopes to complete technical talks on stationing parts of a US missile defense shield on its soil next month.

Alaska House Urges Continued Federal Support of Missile Defense System
Alaska State Senate unanimously passes House Joint Resolution 12, which urges Congress to continue funding for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense System.

Obama: Troop Move to Mexican Border Under Consideration
President Obama is looking at possibly deploying National Guard troops to contain violence on the U.S.-Mexico.
 
11 March 2009
Israel's Defense Against Qassam Rockets Still a BMD shambles
Scathing criticism from Israeli mainstream media cast serious doubt on Israeli defense minister's  handling of very-short-range ballistic missile defense, the Iron Dome and Magic Wand programs.

US, Israel Disagree on Iran Arms Threat
U.S. assessment contrasts with a stark Israeli warning that Iran has crossed the "technological threshold" in its pursuit of a nuclear bomb.

Our Friends the Russians?
The president has offered to abandon America’s planned deployment of an anti-missile shield in Eastern Europe in exchange for Russia’s help against Iran’s nuclear-weapons program.

North Korea Says It Will Defend Itself Against US
North Korea vowed "every necessary measure" to defend itself against what it calls U.S. threats, claiming American military exercises in South Korea are a preparation to invade the communist nation.

India's ABM Hits Target Missile, But When Will It be Operational?
India took another step toward joining the elite club of nations that have developed their own anti-ballistic interceptor systems. But it has a long way to go yet.

10 March 2009
Hi-Tech Choppers Are Key to American Mission in Afghanistan
Afghanistan was a helicopter graveyard back in the 1980s, when Mujahideen, supplied with U.S.-made Stinger missiles, systematically shot down Soviet helicopters.

Prague Seeks Out US Missile Defense Stance
Czech President Vaclav Klaus said Monday that he is seeking a sign from President Obama as to whether the U.S. will uphold its agreement to deploy missile defenses in the Czech Republic and Poland.

Cutting Defense Too Deeply
Perceived reversal of U.S. commitment to missile defense runs the risk of threatening our credibility with our allies and may encourage others to proliferate as well.

The Worst Kind of Stimulus
Governments around the world are throwing billions into the one sector of their economies that will probably do the least good for the world: their military-industrial complexes.

India Kicks Off Work on Advanced Missile Defense Shield
Buoyed by the successful testing of its fledgling ballistic missile defense, India is pushing ahead with a more ambitious version capable of shooting down incoming ICBMs in the 5,000 km range.


09 March 2009
North Korea Threatens Full-Scale War if Rocket is Intercepted
North Korea Threatens Full Scale War if Rocket is Intercepted
North Korea says it will wage war on America, Japan and South Korea if any attempt is made to intercept the launch of a rocket it claims is intended to put a satellite into space.

US and South Korea Start Military Maneuvers, Angering North
North Korea described the maneuvers in South Korea as preparations to invade the North, and put its 1.1 million-member armed forces on standby.

Polish President: Missile Defense Should Go Ahead
Poland's president said Sunday he believes the US will honor its agreement to build a missile defense base in his country.

Missile Defense Funds Need Support
Rogue nations that seek to do us harm will not sit idle, so neither can we. Funding research and development of the nation’s missile defense program must continue.

Fear of Lost Jobs Is Hurdle to Reining In Defense Contracts
Missile defense programs, which are still being tested, represent “low-hanging fruit.”

William Swanson Interview
Tenure as CEO has included the re-emergence as a major program of the Patriot missile defense system - a system Swanson oversaw as the youngest plant manager, then the youngest vice president in the company's history in the 1980s.

Iran Crosses Nuclear Tech Threshold
Israel for the first time acknowledges that Teheran has mastered technology to make a nuclear bomb.

Israel Analysis: How Much Time is Left?
It's no secret that Israel is concerned with the outcome of a dialogue between the US and Iran.

India Plans Radars in Space to Boost Missile Defense System
India is planning space-based radars to overcome the range impediment for its missile defense system.

08 March 2009
Iran Test Fires New Missile
Iran has test-fired a new long-range missile, the country's state Press TV reported on Sunday.

Israeli Warplanes Await S-300 Sale to Iran
Russia's transfer of its
 S-300 air-defense systems to Iran would be the trigger point for Israel to take Iran to war, says a US think-tank.

Analysis: US Seeks Hard Bargain on Missile Defense
If the Obama Administration intends to give up missile defense in Europe as part of a security deal with Russia, as early maneuvering seems to suggest, then Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is driving a hard bargain.

False Starts For Star Wars
Obama's position on Star Wars deployment is skeptical; the White House Web site says he'll proceed with it only pending "positive" evidence that it works. And that's the rub. Effectively, so far, it doesn't.

US Says 12,000 US Troops to Leave Iraq by September
U.S. military announces 12,000 American and 4,000 British troops will leave Iraq by September, reducing U.S. combat power from 14 brigades to 12 brigades.

Nike-Hercules Missile Sites and ‘the Good Ol’ Days’
Nike-Hercules missile sites formed “ring of supersonic steel” to protect Los Angeles.


07 March 2009
Job Losses Hint at Vast Remaking of Economy
As government data revealed that 651,000 more jobs disappeared in February, a sense took hold that growing joblessness may reflect a wrenching restructuring of the American economy.

Downturn Slows Missile Defense Agency BRAC Recruiting
Economic slowdown has caused Missile Defense Agency managers to rethink options provided to Pentagon employees relocating Redstone Arsenal.

Russian Foreign Minister  Offers Hope for Global Disarmament Talks
United States has labeled space weapons offer a political ploy to gain a military advantage because it would prohibit an American missile interceptor system from being installed in the Czech Republic and Poland.

Managing Missile Defense's Demise
In case the Obama administration decides to abandon the project, it should do so cleverly and manage the process in a way that secures the political interests of the United States and its Central European allies.

Russia Urges U.S. to Heed Its Missile Shield Concerns
Russia calls on United States to take Moscow's concerns into account when it reviews plans to deploy a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe to counter nuclear threats.

Intercept Puts India's Missile Defense Interceptor on a Par With US
India claims it has successfully tested a home-grown interceptor designed to destroy incoming missiles and compared its capability to an American ballistic missile defense system.

06 March 2009
US invites Russia to Join Its Missile Defense Plan in Eastern Europe
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday invited Russia to join Washington's plan to deploy a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe.
 
North Korea Missile Launch Not Imminent, Says South
A North Korean missile launch may not come for some time although the communist state has been preparing its longest-range rocket for a test flight, South Korea's unification minister said on Wednesday.

Missile Defenseless
President Obama has wasted no time in trying to turn back the clock on missile defense, one of the great foreign-policy achievements of the Bush administration.

The Missiles of March
Poles and Czechs were counting on the shield to guard against threats perhaps not only from Iran, but from any regional force.

651,000 Jobs Reported Lost in February
More than 4.4 million people have now lost their jobs since the recession began in December 2007.

South Korean Airlines Stay Clear of North Korea After Threat
South Korean airlines are rerouting their flights away from North Korean airspace, hours after the North threatened Seoul's passenger planes amid heightened tensions on the divided peninsula.

Navy Plans Air and Missile Defense Command
US Navy will standup Air and Missile Defense Command Will Standup in April.

No 'Grand Bargain'
Russia cannot accept that Poland and the Czech Republic are independent states that are cooperating with the United States on a missile system focused on Iran.

Clinton Plans "Serious" Talks on Missile Defense With Russia
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday she hoped for "serious" talks with her Russian counterpart on the proposal for missile defense installations in Europe.

Where Is Our Radical Youth?
The only specter haunting the groves of American academe seems to be suburban contentment.

India Successfully Tests Missile Interceptor
India successfully tested its homegrown missile interception system Friday for the third time, boosting chances of turning it into a viable defense system.

Raytheon Awarded $11 Million Option for Patriot Missile Facilities
Raytheon Company has been awarded $11.4 million to support Patriot missile facilities during 2009.

Reports: Russia Building Anti-Satellite Weapons
Russia is working on anti-satellite weapons to match technologies developed by other nations, a deputy defense minister was quoted as saying Thursday.

World Awaits Ballistic-Missile Takedown on High Seas
Does "Star Wars" missile defense work or not? We may soon find out, if the rocket launch planned by North Korean starts to veer anywhere near the Land of the Rising Sun.