Missile Defense Program Moves Forward

Posted on: Jan. 12th, 2006 || Source: defenselink.mil | E-mail Article | Print Article

Missile Defense Program Moves Forward

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2006 - The Missile Defense Agency continues to move forward in its efforts to protect the nation against a ballistic missile attack.

In December, the Missile Defense Agency placed its eighth interceptor missile into an underground silo at Fort Greely, Alaska. Two more interceptors already have been emplaced at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. These anti-ballistic missiles are designed to destroy attacking long-range enemy ballistic missiles.

"The interceptors are part of an integrated system of ground, sea and space-based sensors, ground and sea-based radars and an advanced command and control, battle management and communication system designed to detect and track a hostile ballistic missile, then launch and guide an interceptor to destroy the target warhead before it can reach its intended target in any of our 50 states," MDA spokesman Rick Lehner said.

The interceptors "can be brought to alert status in an emergency but they are not yet on 24/7 alert," Lehner added. "'Shakedown' training sessions are still ongoing by U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Northern Command."

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