Lt. Gen. Henry Obering, directory of the Missile Defense Agency, told attendees at the 4th Annual Missile Defense Conference in Washington, D.C., this week that the layered missile defense system is facing some tougher tests this year in line with a maturing program. According to Reuters news service, Obering told reporters after his remarks, “I am confident that if we had to use the system, the system would work.” Currently Ft. Greeley in Alaska is home to nine ground-based interceptors, and Vandenberg AFB, Calif., has two. Officials say they can be brought to alert status but are not yet considered fully operational. The Pentagon plans to field 11 more interceptors by the end of 2007. Other elements of the system are to be fielded, including a sea-based x-band radar that officials say will be fully operational this year. The agency plans to test intercepting a simulated missile with a ground-based hit-to-kill interceptor this year. The last such test took place in October 2002.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.