Rotorhead
08/16/2007, 17:06:51
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THAAD had a lot of problems in the early version tested around 2000. It did so poorly the program was suspended so the kill vehicle could be redesigned. A good friend is an engineer on the project. They took them out to White Sands to see the final test, a direct hit. Some of the early tests were designed to be near misses to preserve the equipment ( some of the vehicles are recovered for later examination and re-use ) but the radar is so accurate now the test resulted in direct hits. THAAD went into volume production early this year and is operational now. THAAD can it missiles outside the atmosphere at booster seperation so the kill is accomplished before decoys can be deployed. It is specifically designed to take down IRBM's but in tests showed some capability against much faster ICBM warheads. In some cases it can hit satellites too. It and Patriot are being tested for possible use from F-15's making them an air launched BDM system. Both are small enough for two to be carried under an F-15. My friend has a video of a THAAD kill vehicle hovering in hanger at Edwards, using it's little guidance rockets to stay stationary in the air inside this hanger. Bitchen!
Standard SM-3 had a good testing program all along and was operational at least a year ago. AEGIS can readily track objects in space, and the radar from THAAD is able to direct launched by ship of Standard SM-3 for even longer range intercepts.
The pilot is always the first person at the scene of the crash.
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