Vol. 1, No. 1
Missile Defense
A National Priority
TM
Defender
Vol. 1, No. 1
In this issue:
Missile Defense
In the Spotlight 2
An interview with Lt. Gen. Ronald T. Kadish,
Director of the Missile Defense Agency
Hit-to-kill technology proven
in tests 4
Boeing executive James W. Evatt wears two
hats in guiding efforts to develop a layered
Missile Defense System
SBIRS Low: a critical capability
Former NORAD commander Gen. Howell
6
M. Estes III makes the case for the SBIRS
Low program
Defender Data
A roundup of news items about defense
9
technologies
In our next issue:
Managing Editor
Kearney Bothwell Intelligence, Surveillance
Art Direction and Reconnaissance
Kim Ige
Associate Art Director
Linda Currey
P.O. Box 3064
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-9851
e-mail: defender@kermar.com
Copyright © 2002 Raytheon Company. All rights reserved.
Missile Defense
Defender’s debut
Welcome to the premier issue of late discussion on the need to build Please use the enclosed reply card to
Defender, a new magazine that will and maintain a strong national defense. add a subscription, to change your
examine major defense programs and mailing address or to have us
Each issue of Defender will focus on
concerns facing the nation today. add a friend to our distribution list.
a single subject, starting with Missile
Each issue will feature a Spotlight Defense, followed by ISR (Intelligence, – Editor
interview with a key military, Surveillance and Reconnaissance),
government or industry leader, along Precision Strike, Homeland Security
with related stories. The magazine is and more.
intended to provide a forum to stimu-
An introduction to Missile Defense
The concept of missile defense
is simple. Think of yourself as
the target and think of the
missile as anything that
is thrown or shot at
you. The object is
NOT to get hit.
In the earliest
conflicts, a missile
was nothing more than
a rock or a stick – and the
early defenders either developed
nimble feet or primitive shields.
But technology never remains static.
Today there are intercontinental
ballistic missiles that can deliver
a weapon of mass destruction In the launch phase, which may last The capability to defend against any
anywhere in the world in less than 3–5 minutes, the missile fights gravity missile in each of those phases is called
30 minutes. However, these missiles to get off the ground and to build up a layered defense, which is intended to
can be stopped. enough speed to carry it to its destina- increase the defender’s ability to
tion. In the midcourse phase, which destroy the incoming missile before
Ballistic missiles, whether ICBMs can last more than 20 minutes for a it can hit the United States or its allies
or short-range SCUDs like those long-range ICBM, the missile coasts or or their troops in the field. In the next
used in the Persian Gulf War, follow falls toward its target, getting a helping few pages you’ll read about some of the
the same laws of physics that govern hand from gravity. The terminal phase, technologies being perfected to detect a
their flight. Each goes through three which lasts 30 seconds or less, is when missile launch anywhere in the world,
phases: the launch or boost phase, the warhead reenters the atmosphere track the missile over land or sea, or
the midcourse phase, and the and screams toward its target. into space, and destroy it long before it
terminal phase. reaches its intended target. s
Defender 1
SPOTLIGHT
Missiles can come from anywhere
USAF Lt. Gen. Ronald T. Kadish, director of the Missile Defense Agency, discusses
the need to defend against all threats, including terrorism from ballistic missiles
Lt. Gen. Ronald Kadish emerged from
his conference room at the Missile
Defense Agency at about 9:40 a.m.
Sept. 11, 2001, moments after
American Airlines flight 77 passed
directly over his building. Within
seconds, the aircraft flew an unsus-
pected path of destruction into the
southwest wing of the Pentagon, just a
few hundred yards away. The military,
the nation and the world around it
would never be the same.
In an ironic twist, the terrorists, who
already underestimated the resolve of
America to fight back, handed their
enemies yet another rallying cry. By
Photos courtesy U.S. Department of Defense
Sept. 12, the question was no longer
whether America should deploy a
missile defense shield. It was now with”—to build a missile defense reliance on deterrence and treaties
a matter of when and how. capability for the United States of to try to stem proliferation.
America.
As Kadish and his staff watched the But the world has changed … the threat
Pentagon crisis unfold, they came to a The head of missile defense for the has changed. It’s no longer the Soviets.
stark and bitter realization. “We’re no free world took 30 minutes from a Missile technology has proliferated after
longer safe in our own homeland,” the hectic daily schedule to share with all. It’s reached a point where the threat
general said. “Sept. 11 changed us and Defender his views on an American can emerge from a number of nations
we still don’t fully understand how.” missile defense shield. and groups. The bad guys have the tech-
nology and they can mature it at their
The world does know this: America’s Defender: Why does America need own pace. If their missiles are matched
resolve to defend itself from suicidal a defense against attack by missiles? with weapons of mass destruction,
hijackings, nuclear terrorism, or any ultimately we and our allies will have
other form of attack is unshaken. Gen. Kadish: The interesting thing is
to deal with it, up close and personal.
that many Americans think we already
A former program manager for the have one. They saw the TV images of Defender: How did Sept. 11 change
huge C-17 cargo aircraft, and a talented our Patriot missiles attacking the (short- things?
Air Force C-130 pilot with more than range) SCUDs during the Persian Gulf
2,000 flight hours, today Kadish is War … it left the impression that we Gen. Kadish: Since 9/11 the entire
executing with precision the work he already have the ability to defend concept of deterrence has changed.
says “four presidents and nine against long-range threats. That’s not We’ve always known that missiles are
Congresses have asked us to get on the case. Instead, there’s been a hard to defend against after they’re
2 Defender Vol. 1, No. 1
Missile Defense
launched. Now we know there are what’s happening from an intelligence that we stay ahead of the threat. We’re
irrational people out there who will pay point of view. Yet ultimately we have acquiring the confidence to build a
absolutely no attention to deterrence. to expect the unexpected and be ready missile defense system that is matched
The national attitude toward defense for it. Even the direction of the threat to our needs; we can improve that
system over time through capabilities-
based, spiral development.
Defender: Which enabling technolo-
gies are most critical to the national
missile defense program?
Gen. Kadish: Our hit-to-kill intercep-
tion technology—what’s been called
“hitting a bullet with a bullet.” That’s the
centerpiece. A ballistic missile is a very
small target that can travel two to eight
kilometers per second—faster than a
bullet. We’ve proven in the past two
years that we can perform hit-to-kill in
the midcourse phase of missile trajectory.
Computers, sensors, radars, communica-
tions networks and kinetic energy
weapons are the enabling technologies.
The mission of the Missile Defense Agency is to develop an integrated system that will pro-
tect America and its allies from ballistic missile attacks regardless of where they originate. We’re getting it done. Now we have to do
it reliably and against countermeasures.
changed too. Now people realize that Across the different phases of flight, from
we have to defend against all threats, “We’ve proven in the past the boost phase through midcourse,
including nuclear terrorism from two years that we can there is different phenomenology. We
ballistic missiles.
perform hit-to-kill … have to work in parallel paths to engage
We’re getting it done.” and destroy targets at every phase of
We’ve enjoyed the support of four
flight and against all ranges of targets.
presidents and nine Congresses. The
For instance, we’re working on directed
U.S. withdrawal from the anti-ballistic
energy—defending ourselves at the
missile treaty was a huge step. The can be unexpected. In August of ’98, speed of light—which could simplify
treaty was very good at what it did—it we were surprised about the capabilities many of our time-distance challenges.
prevented us from building a missile of the North Korean missile launch.
defense. Without it, we have more Keep in mind that the people who are Defender: How has the Pentagon
flexibility to proceed. building or acquiring missile technology partnered with American industry on
are doing so in their own classified way missile defense?
Defender: How has the threat evolved? to try to surprise us.
Gen. Kadish: People tend to forget
Gen. Kadish: For 60 years, missiles If proliferation continues, at some that it’s American industry and the
have been formidable weapons. The point we might be confronted. We expertise that it brings to the table
threat used to be well defined. Now it’s have to be ready. It’s inherent to the that’s actually getting the job done.
characterized by surprise. We can watch mission of the Missile Defense Agency Continued on page 8
Defender 3
Hit-to-kill technology proven in tests
Now, says James W. Evatt, general manager of
Boeing Missile Defense Systems, a defense for
America and its allies is rapidly becoming a reality
Picture a pair of gunfighters facing on the program are Raytheon, TRW
each other in a western movie. and Lockheed Martin.
They’re about 20 paces apart when The purpose of the GMD is to develop
they draw and fire. Despite odds that (and potentially to deploy) an efficient,
would deter the most ardent gamblers effective system to detect, track and
in Las Vegas, the two bullets collide destroy incoming ballistic missiles.
head-on and disintegrate.
“Our mission is to develop an integrated,
Now throttle up the complexity a few layered system. We’re going from the
thousand degrees. Separate the two lab to flight testing, and, if desired, to Photo courtesy of The Boeing Company
“bullets” by 4,300 miles. Increase deployment, at a fast but successful
the velocity by a factor of five, to pace,” Evatt says. “We put a laboratory
15,000 miles per hour and, for good experiment into space within three to Defense Support Program satel-
measure, place the collision, say, four years and proved unequivocally lites detect and track the target.
140 miles above the earth. that we can make it work. Now we
have to keep our quality high, our costs A battle management, command,
Possible? Only an extraordinary display low and transition from test-bed to control and communications
of ingenuity and determination could (BMC3) unit cues up the
functionality as quickly as we can.”
accomplish such a feat. Which is exactly ground-based radars to provide
what the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) more accurate targeting
In recent months, the team successfully
information.
and its team of contractors have done. recorded four of six hit-to-kill intercept
tests against target ballistic missiles. The BMC3 commands the
Defying the forces of improbability and The 123-pound kill vehicle has been launch of the EKV from the
charging ahead in the effort to build a “extremely robust in its capability,” Reagan Test Site in the central
missile defense shield for America and Evatt says. “It’s proven its worth and Pacific Ocean and provides the
its allies, the MDA and its team have weapons tasking plan and the
demonstrated its quality.” He noted
demonstrated that a hit-to-kill defense final target tracking information.
that the core exoatmospheric kill
against ballistic missiles is rapidly vehicle (EKV) technology has never The kill vehicle slams into
becoming a reality. failed. (The few times mission success the target at a closing speed in
was not fully achieved, a quality issue excess of 15,000 miles per hour.
“The physics never changed but now occurred that prevented the EKV
our national focus and determination from performing.) Evatt attributes a large portion of the
are much stronger,” says Jim Evatt, success of the GMD to the incredible
executive vice president and general The scenario is beginning to grow familiar: computational capabilities of the kill
manager of Boeing Missile Defense vehicle. “The fact that you can put so
Systems, prime contractor for the A target vehicle is launched from much computational power onboard
Ground-based Midcourse Defense Vandenberg Air Force Base on the EKV is one of the most important
(GMD) program. Teamed with Boeing the California coast. enabling technologies. We put the
4 Defender Vol. 1, No. 1
Missile Defense
Photos right and center courtesy of Missile Defense Agency Web site
smarts into a very sophisticated piece
of equipment. We’ve been consistently
doubling our speed and capacity. Our
goal is to spiral up and get to another
generation or two beyond the current
state of the art.”
A National Team Approach
Evatt needs an extra large hat stand
these days. That’s because he goes to
work each morning wearing “two hats,”
one as a Boeing executive, and a second
as executive vice president and general
manager of the six-company National
Team performing systems engineering
and integration for missile defense. He
even maintains two separate offices
within walking distance of one another
in Crystal City, near the Pentagon, to
make sure he doesn’t inadvertently
compromise proprietary information.
“A lot of people from many different
organizations had been working on
individual elements of missile defense
for many years,” he says. “Now we’ve
brought all of the engineers together on
a single team, which throttled us up
from a low level of development to an
acute focus on program success.”
Chartered to define the system When a ballistic missile launch is detected, the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system
architecture and requirements for the fires an interceptor missile (bottom center and right) carrying the Exoatmospheric Kill
Vehicle (top left). A ground-based X-band radar (lower left) provides accurate targeting
multilayered ballistic missile defense information that enables the EKV to intercept the incoming missile (inset) long before it
system, the National Team, comprised has a chance to reach its destination.
of Boeing, Raytheon, Northrop
Grumman, TRW, General Dynamics Evatt cites the cooperative and produc- a sophisticated suite of electronics, and
and Lockheed Martin, is the best tive working environment in the joint advanced manufacturing technologies,
approach to get the “best and the Crystal City offices of the National coming together every single day.”
brightest” in the game, Evatt says. “You Team: “Teamwork is pervasive. I forget
could rely on one company to do it. who works for what company. You can Rewarding Work
You could rely on the government to sense the sharp focus on a common A native of Norman, Okla., and former
do it. Or you can team up to do it. The purpose among people from many commander of the Strategic Air
National Team is the best way to get different companies. What you do see is Continued on page 8
everyone’s ideas on the table.”
Defender 5
SBIRS Low: a critical capability
Former NORAD commander Gen. Howell M. Estes III (USAF Ret.) explains
his views on the need for the SBIRS Low program
Staff photos
the Prime Minister of Canada that variety of sensors, including IR and
Editor’s note: The Department of Defense
has announced its intention to change
Canada or the United States or both are radar, in low earth orbit.
the name of the SBIRS Low program. At under attack when they’re not.”
press time, the new name had not been He believes the completion and deploy-
released. Estes is the former commander in ment of SBIRS Low would give the U.S.
chief of NORAD and a staunch the capability to allow absolute identifica-
advocate of the Space-Based Infrared tion and full evaluation of a possible
System (SBIRS) Low program. He also threat in mid-flight, when chances would
A surface-based sensor detects a is a member of the board of directors be best it could be shot down safely.
previously unknown object entering of the Space Foundation, a national
the Earth’s atmosphere. What is it nonprofit organization. Estes explained that existing systems
and where is it headed? can pick up a missile when it leaves
The foregoing scenario is a major the ground. They can see it approach
The people at Cheyenne Mountain, reason Estes believes SBIRS Low is a a target. But they can’t follow it
Wyo., home of NORAD (the North critical part of any tiered multilayered during the relatively long period in
American Aerospace Defense missile defense system. space between launch and impact.
Command), have only minutes to Consequently, defenders lose time
determine whether it’s a piece of space One of the problems he had at NORAD when it’s most critical to identify and
junk—or an incoming ballistic missile. was positively identifying an object evaluate an approaching object and
entering the atmosphere. “We wanted probably limit themselves to a single
“One of the difficulties that you deal to see the target with two kinds of attempt to destroy it.
with at NORAD is that you have the sensors,” Estes explained. “So an IR
mission to provide warning of an air (infrared) sensor and a radar sensor were “That’s why SBIRS Low is so crucial,”
or missile attack on North America in always required (for confirmation).” Estes told Defender in an exclusive
which you can’t be wrong,” said interview. “If you can’t track the object
retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Howell The SBIRS Low concept provides for through the midcourse and you only
Estes III. “You don’t want to make a a constellation of satellites, all with a have a general idea that something’s
mistake and advise the President and
6 Defender Vol. 1, No. 1
Missile Defense
been launched, then you’re faced with
using terminal radar for acquisition and
ballistic missile early warning radar and
X-bands for actual tracking and kill. Also,
you’re stuck with a very limited amount
of time to do all of that work, which you
would logically do during midcourse.”
With midcourse tracking capability,
however, defenders would know the
exact nature of the object when they
began to fire interceptors. They could fire
earlier and probably take multiple shots.
The retired general dismissed the
argument that ground-based radar
could provide adequate protection at
far less expense.
“The problem with the radar-only
solution is that it’s in a fixed location,”
he said. “It can only cover what it can
see in its radar paths. If you’re trying to
protect not only the U.S. but also our
forces overseas and our allies, you need
to be able to deal with this issue globally.
You can’t put enough radar units out
there to cover all the possibilities.
A SBIRS Low satellite constellation is a key part of a multilayered system that would
“This is a real simple, straightforward
significantly improve the defender’s ability to destroy ballistic missiles by identifying and
answer. The fact of the matter is SBIRS, tracking them during the longest phase of their flight—before reentering the atmosphere.
the constellation we’re talking about
putting up, whatever size it ends up
being, is intended to be global in One of the most helpful of these “I think the concern is that if we get
nature,” Estes continued, “to protect not secondary capabilities would be the too involved in trying to add these
only the United States of America, but capacity of SBIRS Low to help predict additional missions, we will forget the
our allies and our forces overseas.” where space vehicles reentering the primary mission and not do it well,” he
earth’s atmosphere will land. Such added. “But if we can get the primary
And there’s a fringe benefit to the SBIRS information would enhance public mission done and add these other
Low system. “We’re building SBIRS safety throughout the world. missions for little or no additional cost,
Low primarily to do missile defense. then we’re not only doing what’s right
But the fact is that we’ve got a number “Are we going to build other systems, for the country but we’re doing what’s
of other requirements beyond just or another system (to handle those right for the taxpayer. SBIRS Low is a
missile defense,” Estes said, such other tasks)? The expense is probably classic example of an improved sensor
as space surveillance, battlespace cost-prohibitive. We’re not going to that is on duty all the time and that
characterization, situational awareness build separate systems,” Estes said. will help us gather the kind of broad-
and weather data. spectrum intelligence we need.” s
Defender 7
Spotlight: Missiles can come from anywhere – Lt. Gen. Kadish
(continued from page 3)
We’ve tried to make our partnership compete them, or give them to the Defender: Is there a wild card out
with industry stronger at the Missile industrial element to actually build. there?
Defense Agency. We’ve tried to set a So this team doesn’t build anything.
common, clear vision. It’s critical that They’re brainpower. Gen. Kadish: People. It all comes
we make this partnership work. We can down to people. If they share our
only be as successful as our industry To do this, we had to ask the companies vision, understand what we have to
partners. If we put our energy into to offer up some of their best people, the do, have the right tools every minute
ensuring that everyone is successful, high-income, high-revenue-generator of every day and every second of every
then we’ll tap the vast industrial type folks, into an element to do this minute and they ruthlessly apply tried-
talent of America. So we came up with very difficult job. We had some and-true processes as the rule of the
the idea of a national team, that we proprietary information, organizational day, then we will succeed. s
would bring together our strongest conflict-of-interest agreements that had
industrialists and government people to be signed off by these people. And
to help us solve this problem it’s now in place.
Whereas in the past we relied on the
military services and the requirements Hit-to-kill technology proven in tests – James Evatt
process to come up with what it is we (continued from page 5)
ought to do, we decided to consolidate
the management activity and manage it
Command’s largest operational unit, Mr. Reagan was President. The sense of
out of the Missile Defense Agency. But
the 2nd Bombardment Wing, Heavy, urgency is palpable. The debate is no
when I looked around at the people we
at Barksdale AFB, La. (now designated longer whether to build a missile
needed to actually make this a reality,
the 2nd Bomb Wing, 8th Air Force, defense shield, but when.”
and to help us define the architecture
Air Combat Command), Evatt says the
and the system elements as quickly as Going forward, Evatt foresees an
missile defense team couldn’t be more
we needed, I knew that we needed an infusion of even more advanced radars,
committed.
innovative, integrated approach. dictated by the need for greater and
“There’s been a fresh air of patriotism greater levels of situational awareness.
In addition, there was no one company
about this work since 9/11. There’s no He sees the next big missile defense
that I thought would be willing to
longer any doubt that bad people exist technology breakthrough in the area of
contribute all their talent to this one
out there who would do a great deal directed energy: air-based, space-based
area. So the idea we came up with,
more damage to us if they could. To and ground-based lasers.
after we surveyed all the complex
think about a weapon of mass destruc-
programs this country has done over Like many members of the missile defense
tion in their hands is unthinkable.”
many years, and how they did it, was team, Evatt ultimately derives a special
to form a capability that drew the best Evatt recalls the Senate Resolution feeling from his line of work. “I’ve been
from industry and government at the three years ago, despite the Anti- in the defense business since 1964, first
same time. We formed this group, a ballistic Missile Treaty in place at the in the military, then in industry. It’s nice
national team, back in January, and time, that called on the nation to to be involved in an effort that has but
they’re starting operations, and what deploy a defensive missile system as one purpose: to defend people … free
we expect them to do is to help us soon as technologically feasible. people … our families and friends. That’s
actually engineer alternatives, and “Now there is clear support from the higher cause that drives all of us.
when we decide what it is, write the the President and Congress. Missile Missile defense isn’t about business. It’s
specifications for these systems. Then defense is getting the highest levels about our collective defense. I’m proud
we will take those things and actually of focus and national attention since to be a part of the effort.” s
8 Defender Vol. 1, No. 1
Missile Defense
Defender Data
A roundup of news items about defense technologies
What the future might bring algorithm resources in a single organiza- missile scored a direct hit. HAF crews
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — A recent tion, Raytheon also intends to foster from operational Patriot Fire Units
study from the Rand Corp. concludes greater cooperation across programs, conducted the test under operational
the United States must be able to remove barriers between them and conditions. The target was a sub-scale
defend against tactical ballistic missiles eliminate redundancy. The anticipated drone simulating a cruise missile flying
“until it becomes clear that the United result: even higher product quality. at an altitude of 5 kilometers and at a
States will not be involved in conflict range of 30 kilometers. Eight Hellenic
Alliant supports successful companies—Hellenic Arms Industry,
with a rogue state or a peer competitor.” sea-based missile defense test
The study was conducted at Rand’s Hellenic Aerospace Industry, Hellenic
Arroyo Center under contract from the MINNEAPOLIS — Alliant Techsystems Vehicle Industry, Intracom, Siemens,
Army’s Air Defense Artillery Center (ATK) reported its Mk 136 Third-Stage Metka, Sonak, and Elfon Ltd.—have
at Fort Bliss, Texas. Among its other Rocket Motor (TSRM) and the Mk 142 worked with Raytheon to manufacture
conclusions, the report says the Army Kinetic Warhead’s ATK Solid Divert and maintain the Patriot Air and Missile
should invest more in cruise missile and Attitude Control System (SDACS) Defense Systems for Greece.
defenses, retain and improve its short- operated successfully in support of a hit
of a ballistic missile target in space by U.S. no longer required to be
range missile defense against aircraft, vulnerable
and enhance its anti-tactical ballistic a STANDARD Missile-3 (SM-3). The
missile systems by developing smaller U.S. Navy Sea-based Midcourse Defense WASHINGTON — J.D. Crouch, U.S.
and more efficient radar and generators (SMD) flight test was conducted off the assistant secretary of defense for inter-
to enable faster, easier deployment. Hawaii coast on June 13. The ATK national security policy, praised the end
Results of the analysis appear in a TSRM and SDACS propulsion systems— of the outdated Anti-ballistic Missile
briefing paper titled “Army Air and both key elements of the SM-3 missile (ABM) Treaty in a June 19 Op Ed article
Missile Defenses: Future Challenges.” system—performed as expected during in the Washington Times. “Perpetuating
the test, the second flight of an opera- our nationwide vulnerability, as was
Center for Discrimination tional SDACS and the third flight of required under the treaty, is no longer
Algorithms established an operational TSRM. ATK Tactical necessary,” he wrote. “Now that our
BEDFORD, Mass. — A unit to coordinate Systems–Elkton Operations in Elkton, engineers and scientists are free to
the deployment and use of Raytheon’s Md., is developing both systems under conceive of and produce the best defense
renowned discrimination algorithms, a subcontract to Raytheon, which our technology and resources can provide,
essential to several major missile builds both the missile and the kinetic additional missile defense initiatives
defense programs, has been established. warhead systems at its Missile Systems will unfold in the very near future.” He
Discrimination algorithms enable business unit in Tucson, Ariz. The said, “the emerging long-range missile
defense systems to compare objects in a test was the SMD program’s fourth threats involve far smaller numbers of
cluster of potential targets to determine successful flight and its second target missiles and warheads than we faced
which to intercept. A leader for nearly intercept. during the Cold War. Defending against
30 years in the development of discrimi- this more limited missile threat is both
Patriot scores a direct hit in feasible and affordable, but the ABM
nation algorithms, the company is Hellenic Air Force test
unsurpassed in its experience and Treaty made it very difficult to develop
know-how in this area. The new ATHENS, Greece — The Hellenic Air effective capabilities to do so.”
Raytheon Missile Defense Center for Force destroyed a subsonic target during
Discrimination Algorithms is expected the first live firing of its Patriot Air and
to help the company win broader Missile Defense System at the NATO For more information on missile
recognition of its expertise. By gathering Missile Firing Installation on Crete. defense, visit:
all of its vaunted discrimination- Telemetry data confirmed that the www.raytheonmissiledefense.com
Defender 9