After Failed Tests, U.S. May Fire More Interceptors to Defend Nation

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After Failed Tests, U.S. May Fire More Interceptors to Defend Nation

July 24, 2013

By Elaine M. Grossman
Global Security Newswire

A U.S. Ground Based Interceptor is placed at a launch facility in Alaska last year. A history of interceptor test failures could factor into how many GBI weapons the United States would fire if the nation came under ballistic missile attack, the head of U.S. Strategic Command said on Wednesday (U.S. Missile Defense Agency photo).

WASHINGTON -- A recent string of interceptor test failures in the U.S. missile defense system could mean that multiple salvos must be launched in the event of an actual attack against the nation, to ensure that at least one would destroy an incoming weapon, a top commander said on Wednesday.
“Every time we have a flight failure, that factors into the reliability calculations that go into the fire-control system,” Gen. Robert Kehler, who heads U.S. Strategic Command, said regarding the 26 Ground Based Interceptors fielded today in Alaska and the four additional GBI systems deployed in California. “Whatever it takes to prosecute the intercept is what we would do.”
Translation: If an adversary tries to nuke the United States, the Pentagon may have to fire off a number of the troubled GBI darts in the hopes that at least one would hit its bull’s eye. - See more at: http://www.nti.rsvp1.com/gsn/article/after-failed-tests-us-may-fire-more-interceptors-to-defend-nation/?mgh=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nti.org&mgf=1#sthash.dfWsACqG.dpuf