Good News is No News: THAAD Missile Defense Test Spectacularly Successful in Realistic Test; Media Fails to Notice

Aviation Week reports, but don't expect the information to get out further than that.

Two different Thaad interceptors were launched against a single target, simulating an Army operational concept of dispatching a salvo of weapons to ensure a threat is destroyed. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and industry officials declared the flight test a success shortly after it was executed.
However, they disclosed to Aviation Week only recently that the results exceeded their expectations. Early reports from the Pentagon said the second interceptor was intentionally destroyed in flight after the first disabled the target in a hit-to-kill engagement.
“Actually, what happened on the flight test was that the first interceptor hit just as it was supposed to and the second interceptor looked at all of this debris and said, ‘OK, I’ve got another something that looks interesting,’ picked out another threat, and went out and killed it,” says Tom McGrath, Thaad vice president for prime contractor Lockheed Martin. “The second intercept hit another piece of hardware. We can’t talk about what that was, but it picked out what logically you would expect it to pick out and killed it.”

I don't know why they're being coy about that. They mean it either locked in on the heat signature of the still-hot engines, or (less likely) it locked on to a radioactive trace they put into the warhead to make it play like a nuke.

It's not as if enemies can't guess what they're talking about. And it's not as if anyone's jaw is gong to drop at news that a missile locks on heat-signatures.

They pretty much flat-out say "it locked on to something it was keyed to seek, apart from physical mass." If they wanted to hide this they should have just said the second interceptor went after the biggest remaining bit of mass, and we wouldn't be sitting here wondering what the missile was targeting apart from mass.

Closing Velocity also re-rubbishes the already-rubbished fatuous arguments against missile defense.

Posted by: Ace at 01:05 PM

Comments

1 Il Douche actaully allowed them to do this test? I'm shocked.

Posted by: Bat Chain Puller at August 18, 2009 01:08 PM (SCcgT)

2 ^first?

Posted by: katya at August 18, 2009 01:08 PM (MEayq)

3 Gosh, it's too bad this doesn't work and the government keeps funding these not working programs!

Posted by: alexthechick at August 18, 2009 01:08 PM (SHHaV)

nevermind

Posted by: katya at August 18, 2009 01:09 PM (MEayq)

5 actaully = actually, dammit.

Posted by: Bat Chain Puller at August 18, 2009 01:09 PM (SCcgT)

Expect funding to be cut next week.

Other than that....

ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!!!

Posted by: EC at August 18, 2009 01:09 PM (mAhn3)

7 When Obama is a lame duck to a new GOP president, he will sell this technology to our enemies in order to level the playing field. It will actually be used to develop weapons that can overcome this technology and kill Americans.

Posted by: Tamale Ranger at August 18, 2009 01:10 PM (HlHsw)

8 Great! Send them to Israel for field testing.

Posted by: maddogg at August 18, 2009 01:10 PM (OlN4e)

Media Fails to Notice

One day, years from now, many MSM journalists will be punished for their acts of treason against the People of the United States of America.

Posted by: katya at August 18, 2009 01:10 PM (MEayq)

Oh goodie!

Let's cancel it.

Posted by: Hussein the Plumber at August 18, 2009 01:12 PM (RkRxq)

Actually, what happened on the flight test was that the first interceptor hit just as it was supposed to and the second interceptor looked at all of this debris and said, ‘OK, I’ve got another something that looks interesting,’ picked out another threat, and went out and killed it...

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at August 18, 2009 01:13 PM (B+qrE)

#9 One day, years from now, many MSM journalists will be punished for their acts of treason against the People of the United States of America.

I like that thinking, but unfortunately in the end, there will be only chaos.

I think we're going to be completely screwed in the next 2-3 years. It may not be a domestic policy thing, but I think we're going to get butt-raped by one of Messiah's foreign policy blunders. Foremost on my mind is a nuclear Iran, but it could be something else as well.

Posted by: Kratos (on the back of Gaia, scaling Mt Olympus) at August 18, 2009 01:13 PM (9hSKh)

13 Damn these failed defense programs. Quick, use that saved money from cancelling it to pay for the Cash For Clunkers program as global warming is a more imminent threat than some nuclear missile.

Posted by: CDR M at August 18, 2009 01:14 PM (cvmTR)

14 Love it. I still hear from libs that this stuff is a joke and doesn't work and blah blah blah blah blah

Posted by: Z Ryan (missile defense fan) at August 18, 2009 01:15 PM (PDeVA)

15

It will never work in the real world.

Cancel it and spend the money on something that does work: embryonic stem cell research.

Posted by: Liberal Fucktard at August 18, 2009 01:15 PM (7+pP9)

16
Did anyone else hear Obama congratulating himself for 'increasing the size of the Army' yesterday?

Does he realize that recruitment is up because of the loose labor market?

Posted by: Tweet Davis Hanson at August 18, 2009 01:16 PM (jVldi)

“The second intercept hit another piece of hardware. We can’t talk about what that was, but it picked out what logically you would expect it to pick out and killed it.”

Was it the reserved Media Only viewing platform?

Posted by: Roadking TC at August 18, 2009 01:17 PM (GsrkQ)

I like that thinking, but unfortunately in the end, there will be only chaos.

Probably. They should be punished for their part in lying and cheating and breaking the law of the land to further this administration. I am very angry and bitter toward the MSM. I truly consider them traitors. I hold them largely responsible for the unlawful activities the present administration continues to carry out. Shame on them.

Posted by: katya at August 18, 2009 01:17 PM (MEayq)

19 Meanwhile, Marines are utilizing some slightly older technology to negotiate the mountains in Afghanistan.

Posted by: maddogg at August 18, 2009 01:18 PM (OlN4e)

20
...Leaving the North Koreans to wonder how to defend their women against Bill Clinton's 'diplomatic' missile...

Posted by: t-bird at August 18, 2009 01:21 PM (FcR7P)

I’m surprised that Il Douche hasn’t killed the budget for this program as well.

Ace; radioactivity in a nuclear weapon is primarily Alpha emitters which will not penetrate the “skin” of the missile unless the warhead skin itself is the radioactive substance (U-235 or Pu-240). You could never target a defensive missile based on radioactivity because the activity of a nuclear weapon is not much above natural background.

Posted by: Vic at August 18, 2009 01:22 PM (CDUiN)

22 I'm sure the above rant puts me on some kind of list.

Posted by: katya at August 18, 2009 01:22 PM (MEayq)

23 This double-killing of missiles is wasteful and needs to be reduced to zero killing of missiles post haste (that's immediately for you in-breds).

Posted by: The Prez at August 18, 2009 01:23 PM (muUqs)

24 Hmm, wonder what the Greys think about this. Can we go after their mothership now?

Posted by: Dang Straights at August 18, 2009 01:24 PM (Haq+B)

25 I'm sure the above rant puts me on some kind of list.
Posted by: katya

Paul Newman claimed his greatest accomplishment was being in Nixon's enemy list. Maybe you can make it onto Obama's.

Posted by: Z Ryan (missile defense fan) at August 18, 2009 01:24 PM (PDeVA)

26 This is hardly the language-and-culture-based soldiering I've asked our armed forces to train in.

Posted by: President Dickweed at August 18, 2009 01:26 PM (Do9Eu)

27 Went for the warhead, did it? Nice.

Tell me again how "it'll never work", Grampaw...

Posted by: mojo at August 18, 2009 01:27 PM (g1cNf)

Can we go after their mothership now?

I think we need a bigger missile to handle all of California.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at August 18, 2009 01:30 PM (B+qrE)

That's gotta be the most frustrating part of working on a cool program like this.

"It did something awesome. So amazingly awesome that you wouldn't believe me, even if I told you how awesomely amazing what it did was! Which is good, because I can't tell you anything about it. BUT IT WAS SO AWEX0ME!!!!1!!!!111!"

Posted by: reason at August 18, 2009 01:34 PM (F26eZ)

30 ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!!!

Dammit, a co-worker just stuck her head into my office to find out why I'm giggling and I couldn't even begin to explain why.

Posted by: alexthechick at August 18, 2009 01:34 PM (SHHaV)

AtC just had a main screen turn on.

Posted by: reason at August 18, 2009 01:36 PM (F26eZ)

32 Kratos: I think you're partially right. Yeah -- something very bad is more likely to happen than not. However, it's not us (wealthy relative to the history of humanity) middle class Americans, or even our own poor who are going to suffer the most for it. Yeah, things might get a bit grim, but we have strong institutions here -- family, church, our guns, our tradition (though fading) of self reliance. It might be pushed to back of many people's memories, but it's still all there. Pity the other nations of the world who have yet to crawl out from below the boots of their dictators, or who have done so but are struggling economically to put food on their tables. We'll be okay to stand against chaos.

Once again, it will be the most helpless who are hurt the worst when D shit hits the fan.

Posted by: mr.frakypants at August 18, 2009 01:36 PM (PonvG)

33 Cool! Sadly, the One will cancel it anyway, since he does not care if Americans die.

Posted by: BattleofthePyramids at August 18, 2009 01:37 PM (Pi/S+)

34

As a shithouse scientist I figure that since nuclear warheads are composed of very dense elements the 2nd missile went after the densest remnant of the destroyed missile.

Posted by: Tinian at August 18, 2009 01:38 PM (7+pP9)

Dammit, a co-worker just stuck her head into my office to find out why I'm giggling and I couldn't even begin to explain why.

Alex, my staff has had a straightjacket at ready five since I started reading this place. The looks I get...

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at August 18, 2009 01:39 PM (B+qrE)

the densest remnant

"The Maxine Waters Story" next on Lifetime.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at August 18, 2009 01:40 PM (B+qrE)

37 We can’t talk about what that was, but it picked out what logically you would expect it to pick out and killed it.

Patchouli-seekers.....pleeeeease?

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at August 18, 2009 01:40 PM (btril)

That's gotta be the most frustrating part of working on a cool program like this.

Indeed! While I can understand Ace's "why so coy?" complaint, I'm bound by the same clearance restrictions as that McGrath fellow above is. It's obvious what he's talking about...but we can't talk about it. Felonies & shit.

Thanks for the link, Ace.

Posted by: John McKittrick at August 18, 2009 01:41 PM (outBY)

39 I'm sure our Commander-in-Chief will pronounce this a dismal failure. After all, Barry knows everything about everything.

Posted by: GarandFan at August 18, 2009 01:45 PM (qKTIT)

40 CURIOSITY IS NOT A NEED TO KNOW!

Posted by: reason at August 18, 2009 01:45 PM (F26eZ)

41 Why do these people continually insist on proving in successful tests that this untested, unproven technology works?

Didn't they get the memo from teh One?

Posted by: catmman at August 18, 2009 01:46 PM (BCSpK)

42 The 2nd missile hit the unicorn escorting the target. They don't want to anger the president with the fact.

Posted by: LegalImmigrant at August 18, 2009 01:46 PM (rkJR8)

43 satelite.

Posted by: Douglas at August 18, 2009 01:48 PM (uU+Ss)

44 We didn't really need that space station moon anyway.

Posted by: somejoe at August 18, 2009 01:50 PM (yP5sH)

It's not as if enemies can't guess what they're talking about. And it's not as if anyone's jaw is gong to drop at news that a missile locks on heat-signatures.

It uses x-band radar for guidance, IIRC.

Posted by: ol_dirty_/b/tard at August 18, 2009 01:52 PM (IoUF1)

46 I forgot to pre-empt the moonbat screeching on this: the Pentagon originally said they self-destructed the 2nd interceptor! They LIED! They LIED and unmentionable-other-missile-components DIED!

Posted by: John McKittrick at August 18, 2009 01:55 PM (outBY)

The second target was actually a plucky little squirrel that just so happened to stray into the debris field...

Posted by: reason at August 18, 2009 01:56 PM (F26eZ)

48 It doesn't matter. My job is going to be getting the axe because we wont be able to say no to the Chinese because they own our currency. Other programs are getting the axe because we need more methadone clinics, free health care for illegal aliens and union pay offs.
Once these skills are gone outsourced to our strategic competitors future enemies good luck getting them back.

Posted by: Hidden Imam at August 18, 2009 01:57 PM (z/8AK)

McKittrick - it's not entitrely untrue. They self-destructed the 2^nd interceptor by simply allowing it to plow into its self-selected secondary target.

Posted by: reason at August 18, 2009 01:59 PM (F26eZ)

50 .but we can't talk about it. Felonies & shit.

Yeah, but you can smuggle it out in your sock and/or pants.

Posted by: alexthechick at August 18, 2009 02:02 PM (SHHaV)

51 I'm betting what happened was they tried a 2-missile scenario, and got two kills with the two shots but would like to keep that "officially" in their back pocket until it can be reproduced again.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at August 18, 2009 02:08 PM (cO5HF)

52 acquired a satelite.

Posted by: Douglas at August 18, 2009 02:10 PM (uU+Ss)

53 Missile defense doesn't work. My President said so, and he never lies.

Posted by: palin steele (the only racist on AoSHQ) at August 18, 2009 02:26 PM (VmtE9)

54 Nah. They took out an alien ship. Bastards got a little too close this time.

Posted by: Rob Crawford at August 18, 2009 02:37 PM (IuKAf)

55 As a shithouse scientist I figure that since nuclear warheads are composed of very dense elements the 2nd missile went after the densest remnant of the destroyed missile.

Could be. I used to be a manager in the facility that made the important seeking-type bits for heat-seeking missiles.

Them thangs were SENSITIVE. I can imagine seekers sensitive enough to pick out the nuky bits. They use sensors in planes to find nuclear material on the ground after all.

Posted by: trainer at August 18, 2009 02:40 PM (RpBOw)

56 Another way of viewing the result is that America's defense scientists are working on the problems of "chaff" and of multiple independently-aimed re-entry vehicle (MIRV) warheads. This is HUGE!!!!

chsw

Posted by: chsw at August 18, 2009 02:44 PM (AurWl)

57 Chase plane?

Posted by: cthulhu at August 18, 2009 02:46 PM (u+gbs)

58 As a shithouse scientist I figure that since nuclear warheads are composed of very dense elements the 2nd missile went after the densest remnant of the destroyed missile.

Tinian, how would you measure density at those closing velocities?

When I worked on this stuff, we were having problems getting enough passive photons into the detector wells within the time horizons. Much less sending out a signal and getting a return.

BTW - McKittrick picked the right name for his blog.

Posted by: Jean at August 18, 2009 03:02 PM (L64A6)

Good News is No News: THAAD Missile Defense Test Spectacularly Successful in Realistic Test;

Bad news:

Congress, at the urging of Obama, is going to cancel all funding for this.

Posted by: Jay at August 18, 2009 03:20 PM (/ZX77)

60 I'm sure the above rant puts me on some kind of list. Posted by: katya

Rest assured you're on our list.

Posted by: Committee to Punch "First!" Posters in the Throat at August 18, 2009 03:36 PM (kIjlp)

61 "We can’t talk about what that was, but it picked out what logically you would expect it to pick out and killed it."

They killed Kenny!

Posted by: Golem14 at August 18, 2009 03:56 PM (2X8VA)

Reference the B-1, currently in our inventory, that Carter cancelled. If it works, it can be put on line by an administration with just a few more live brain cells.

If I was working on that project, random shitbag politicians would be somewhere on the targeting priority list. Maybe they can't say what they hit with the second missile cause they have to hide the body.

Posted by: bil at August 18, 2009 04:10 PM (pICvD)

What? Star Wars missile defense works? Next thing you know, you'll be telling me we won the war in Iraq.

Posted by: Tantor at August 18, 2009 04:14 PM (SWvPS)

64 As long as I can remember, leftists considered considered any type of ABM system, along with civil defense, as the most evil technology imaginable, even worse than technologies that actually kill people.
Apparently, these programs upset their "Better Red than Dead" campaign.

Old habits die hard.

Posted by: RayJ at August 18, 2009 04:32 PM (YcjCJ)

65 Where else could it have gone?

http://tinyurl.com/qqyugw

Posted by: Dave at August 18, 2009 05:12 PM (zDEa5)

37 We can’t talk about what that was, but it picked out what logically you would expect it to pick out and killed it.

Shot down the photo plane.

Posted by: rickinstl at August 18, 2009 05:26 PM (0AEWQ)

67 I thought Obama killed this program so we would have more money for unicorns. I'm calling my Senator right now and demanding that this funding be stuffed down a rat hole just like the rest of the stimulus money we borrowed from the Chinese.

Posted by: joh at August 18, 2009 07:03 PM (jgwoG)

68 About 8 years ago, I was one of a team working on the TVC section of the NMD Interceptor vehicle. The fact that we have success after success in testing these systems does not surprise me at all. The skills and capabilities of our engineers and scientists working on these things is almost impossible to put into words (and, no, I'm not including myself- I considered myself the dumbest person there).

Posted by: Tim the Enchanter at August 18, 2009 08:56 PM (YsD7f)

Age of Conan CD Key
Call of Duty II CD Key
Company of Heroes CD Key
Counter - Strike CD key: http://www.cdkeyexpress.com
Diablo II CD Key: http://www.cdkeyexpress.com
Grand Theft Auto IV CD Key
Guild Wars CD Key
Nexon Cash for MapleStory: http://www.cdkeyexpress.com
Red Alert III CD Key
StarCraft CD Key
The Godfather II CD Key
Titan Quest CD Key
WarCraft III CD key: http://www.cdkeyexpress.com

Warhammer Online CD key
http://www.cdkeyexpress.com

Burberry scarf: http://www.scarves-store.com
silk scarf：http://www.scarves-store.com

Posted by: CD key at August 18, 2009 10:57 PM (2QneL)

70 All this wasted money on defense could have been spent on giving banksters bonuses.

When will BarriO learn?

Posted by: torabora at August 19, 2009 12:57 AM (UniPz)

Shot down the photo plane.

I agree. They probably had something in the area recording data on the test and it got taken out too.

Posted by: Phoenix at August 19, 2009 05:26 PM (1GCJW)

I thought that you should be a very fashionable attractive person,
then I suggested that you want buyrolex watches or buy beautiful omega watch,
In here everyone have one replica watches in our young people.Because,
the fashion and the quality will be equal to the replicawatches ,
but the price will not actually the omega watch .to be expensive,
it is very cost-effective.

Posted by: omega watches at August 20, 2009 04:49 AM (E9lCL)

73
Best DVD Creator Help you convert movies to DVD and burn DVD movie to DVD disc, DVD folder and ISO files, being played on portable or home DVD players. QuickTime Converter

Posted by: fewr at September 21, 2009 01:33 AM (dUUbd)

Posted by: retailike at October 17, 2009 12:30 PM (zFgZJ)

High Replica Handbags | Replica Louis Vuitton Handbags | replica fashion Handbags| fendi handbags| designer handbags replica| replica Chanel Handbags| designer replica handbag| replica purses| Replica Louis Vuitton Luggage| Hermes Birkin Handbags| Replica Gucci handbags Louis Vuitton,LV Luggage,LV Wallets,LV Agendas,LV Belts,LV Shoes,LV Accessories,Gucci,Gucci Wallets,Gucci Shoes,Marc Jacobs handbags,Marni handbags,Miu Miu handbags,Mulberry handbags,Prada handbags,Thomaswylde handbags,TOD handbags,Bottega Veneta handbags,D&G handbags,Dior handbags,YSL handbags,Coach handbagsLouis Vuitton LV Luggage LV Wallet Chanel Gucci Alexander Wang Fendi Balenciaga Chloe Marc Jacobs Miu Miu Mulberry Jimmy Choo Hermes Loewe Coach Cartier Valentino Bottega Veneta Burberry Dior Prada Marni YSL Versace Dolce&Gabbana Goyard Givenchy Thomas Wylde Luggage Shoes Collection Belts Collection Bracelets Louis Vuitton :: Gucci Handbags :: Chanel Handbags :: Hermes Birkin ::

Posted by: replica handbags at October 25, 2009 08:12 PM (o4b/d)

76 Discount Boots
Womens UGG
UGG Shoes
UGG Australia
UGG UK
UGG USA
discount ugg boots
cheap ugg boots

Posted by: fdsfds at October 27, 2009 01:47 PM (8kvkz)

Posted by: ugg boots at October 27, 2009 06:29 PM (pgfU2)

78 buy Discount Boots
Womens UGG
UGG Shoes
UGG Australia
UGG UK
UGG USA
discount ugg boots
cheap ugg boots
air force 1 shoes
nike air force
air force 1 mens
air force 1 boots
air force onefrom usa

Posted by: airforceoneshop at November 03, 2009 05:08 PM (LHCCE)

79 discount Discount Boots
Womens UGG
UGG Shoes
UGG Australia
UGG UK
UGG USA
discount ugg boots
cheap ugg boots
air force 1 shoes
Nike air force
air force 1 mens
air force 1 boots
air force onefree shipping

Posted by: reviewups at November 06, 2009 03:52 AM (XxrVz)

80 Come to our website for shopping with high quality and best service! There have new products,MBT M. Walk
and MBT Lami,Welcome everybody to buy it.

Posted by: mbt shoes at November 08, 2009 11:12 AM (QhfLM)

Posted by: reviewups at November 10, 2009 04:38 AM (UHjri)

Posted by: ugg boots at November 12, 2009 04:54 AM (IeIJx)

83 buy [url=http://www.reviewups.com/]discount ugg shoes[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/]cheap ugg shoes[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/]cheap ugg[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/ugg-coquette-casual-shoes-c-22]ugg rainier[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/]buy ugg[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/]ugg usa[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/]discount ugg boots[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/ugg-classic-short-c-1]ugg 5825[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/]ugg shoes sale[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/ugg-sundance-c-5]ugg sundance[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/]ugg shoes[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/]cheap ugg boots[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/ugg-classic-tall-c-3]ugg 5815[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/]ugg sale[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/]ugg uk[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/ugg-knightsbridge-c-27]ugg knightsbridge[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/]womens ugg boots[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/]ugg boots[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/]ugg australia[/url]
[url=http://www.reviewups.com/ugg-classic-cardy-c-2]ugg 5819[/url]from usa

Posted by: cheap at November 14, 2009 07:08 AM (s7MB5)

Posted by: replica watches at November 17, 2009 09:05 AM (xpuiO)

85 ugg classic cardy
ugg bailey button
ugg classic tall
ugg classic mini
ugg rainier
ugg 5819
ugg knightsbridge
ugg 5815
ugg 5825
ugg sundance
ugg ultra tall

Posted by: reviewups at November 17, 2009 09:07 PM (Cdn3U)

Posted by: replica watches at November 18, 2009 02:15 AM (C/zDM)

Posted by: replica watches at November 18, 2009 03:33 AM (C/zDM)

88 UGG BOOTS

Posted by: UGG BOOTS at November 18, 2009 01:27 PM (WPYlQ)

Processing 0.05, elapsed 0.0551 seconds.
15 queries taking 0.0078 seconds, 97 records returned.
Page size 85 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.7 alpha.