The United States has reached a deal to sell $3.48 billion worth of missiles and related technology to the United Arab Emirates, a close Mideast ally, as part of a massive buildup ofdefense technology among friendly Mideast nations near Iran.

Pentagon spokesman George Little announced the Christmas Day sale on Friday night. He said the U.S. and U.A.E. have a strong defense relationship and are both interested in “a secure and stable”Persian Gulf region.

The deal includes 96 missiles, along with supporting technology and training support that Little says will bolster the nation’s missile defense capacity.

The deal includes a contract with Lockheed Martin to produce the highly sophisticated Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, weapon system for the U.A.E.

Tom McGrath, vice president and program manager for Lockheed Martin’s THAAD program in Dallas, said in a statement it was the first foreign military sale of the THAAD system.

THAAD interceptors are produced at Lockheed Martin’s Pike County Facility in Troy, Alabama. The launchers and fire control units are produced at the company’s Camden, Arkansas, facility.

Wary of Iran, the U.S. has been building up missile defenses of its allies, including a $1.7 billion deal to upgrade Saudi Arabia’s Patriot missiles and the sale of 209 Patriot missiles to Kuwait, valued at about $900 million.

On Thursday, the Obama administration announced the sale of $30 billion worth of F-15SA fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.

Under the fighter jet agreement, the U.S. will send Saudi Arabia 84 new fighter jets and upgrades for 70 more. Production of the aircraft, which will be manufactured by Boeing Co., will support 50,000 jobs and have a $3.5 billion annual economic impact in the U.S.

All the sales are part of a larger U.S. effort to realign its defense policies in the Persian Gulf to keep Iran in check.  [Associated Press]

The Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system is just one of several U.S. military programs that might have been compromised through the inclusion of fake Chinese electronics that were passed off as high
grade, the London Telegraph reported on Tuesday. Investigators for the Senate Armed Services Committee found a total of 1,800 instances in which the

U.S. Defense Department had purchased electronic components that could be counterfeit.  The Senate researchers found false components used not only in the THAAD system, but also in Boeing transport planes and helicopters.  The THAAD system was developed to destroy hostile ballistic missiles in their end phase of flight, both inside and outside of the Earth’s atmosphere, according to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
In roughly 70 percent of the cases documented by Senate investigators, the counterfeit components were purchased in China, which is also believed to have been the origination point for 20 percent of the
other cases in which fake electronics were purchased from Canada and the United Kingdom.

In Chinese shopping districts, “military grade” computer chips are widely hawked, but these microchips are frequently commercial-grade ones that have been altered and repackaged. Military-quality electronics are developed to endure wide fluctuations in humidity and temperature. There are concerns that counterfeit Chinese chips could abruptly cease functioning. “We cannot tolerate the risk of a ballistic missile interceptor failing to hit its target, a helicopter pilot unable to fire his missiles, or any other mission failure because of a counterfeit part,” said the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.).  Analysts contend that issues with counterfeit electronics go back to the Clinton White House, when the Defense Department was directed to purchase “off-the-shelf” components instead of developing its own. A 2008 Commerce Department probe uncovered close to 7,400 instances of fraudulent components in military systems.  [Aviation Week]

Via the MDA website.

The U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, The Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Army conducted a flight test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon system today, challenging the system to track, detect and intercept two different targets utilizing two THAAD interceptors – a first for the system.

The flight test, known as FTT-12, was designated an Initial Operational Test and Evaluation test by the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense.

The Director, Operational Test and Evaluation and the Army Test and Evaluation Command will also independently evaluate the operational effectiveness of the system. It was conducted at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on Kauai, Hawaii.

During the mission, the first THAAD missile intercepted an air-launched short-range ballistic missile target. The second THAAD missile intercepted a sea-launched short-range ballistic missile target a short time later. Since 2005, the program has completed 12 flight tests, with nine-for-nine intercepts.  [SPACEWAR]

You can read more at the link.

The Missile Defense Agency is struggling with lousy quality control among its contractors, its executive director said during today’s budget briefing.

David Altwegg, a highly respected missileer and engineer, told reporters that he and his colleagues stood watching a recent THAAD test. A drogue parachute pulled the target out of a C-17. “We all stood there and watched it fall into the water,” said an obviously disgusted Altweg. A failure review board was convened and found the test failed due to “a quality control problem.”

But THAAD was not the only program with a quality problem, Altweg said. “Across the enterprise quality is a concern,” he said. The companies working for MDA suffer from “a lack of attention to detail. Missilery is all about detail,” he said with controlled passion. Altweg would not identify any particular companies but made clear there were very few that do no have quality problems.

“We are working this problem assiduously,” he said, saying that MDA send experts to companies to help them improve, “but we continue to have quality problems.”  [DOD Buzz]

Keep in mind this is not the first time THAAD has been set back because of a target failure.  Flight Test 10 back in 2008 experienced a target failure as well.

Riki Ellison, Chairman and Founder of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA), www.missiledefenseadvocacy.org has reviewed the FY2011 Missile Defense Budget released on February 1st by the Department of Defense which offers a substantial increase to the total budget for missile defense. This increase recovers close to half the amount that was cut by the President and Secretary Robert Gates a year ago. Ellison is one of the top lay experts in the world on the topic of missile defense. His comments and observations include the following:

“Early this week, President Barack Obama’s administration and the Department of Defense announced a substantial increase to the 2011 Missile Defense Budget. The amount, $9.42 billion, equals a 6.13 percent increase from the 2010 budget. This increase, $577 million, recovers close to half the amount that was cut by the President and Secretary Robert Gates a year ago. ” [Defence Pros]

People that follow missile defense probably all remember that just back in April the widely publicized cuts in missile defense were announced.  However, the budget was cut, but I did like Secretary Gates strategy of focusing funding on missile defense systems that currently work.

With this new announcement the focusing of money on missile defense that currently works is only continuing:

Among the highlights of the 2011 Missile Defense Budget Request are:

• Increase of development funding of $359 million for the Ground Based Interceptors.
- Plans to construct 38 GBI silos and to buy 56 GBIs.
- A significant reversal from the 30 silos and 44 GBIs from last years request.

• Increase of 249 THAAD (142) and AEGIS SM3 (107) land and sea-based regional missile defense interceptors for a total of 867 by 2015.

• Upgrades of 3 additional Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Ships.

• Addition of three new Missile Defense programs:
- $256 million for the Land-Based SM3 program that will go to over a $1.0 Billion by 2015.
- $99 million to Directed Energy Programs.
- $67 million for a future space based satellite sensor constellation called Precision Tracking Space System (PTSS) that will go to $1.2 Billion by 2015.

• Increase to $1.47 billion (up $31 million) for the AEGIS program.

• Increase to $1.0 billion (up $52 million) for the Patriot Terminal Defense interceptors and systems.

• Increase to $1.11 billion (up $290 million) for missile defense testing and targets.

• Increase to $319 million (up $63 million) for co-development with Japan on the Sea Based SM3-BlockIIa interceptor.

The increased funding into GMD is significant which is interesting considering the failure of the last fight test due to an issue with the SBX sensor.  However, the technology and capability of the GMD program is impressive for those familiar with it and I believe with more testing this can become a more reliable program.  Apparently the President now thinks so as well.

THAAD live fire at the Pacific Missile Range Facility In Hawaii.

What I am most excited about is to see more money being put into the THAAD and AEGIS SM-3 programs.  These are both very successful systems.  Also it was good to see money being poured into the land-based SM-3 program that will allow the missile to deployed in areas that an AEGIS ship cannot access.  Finally considering the failure of the last THAAD flight test due to a target issue it is good to see that more money is being poured into testing and targets.

All in all I continue to believe a solid missile defense strategy is in place by Secretary Gates and President Obama.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces [PDF] the United Arab Emirates’ request for 3 Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) Fire Units with 147 THAAD anti-ballistic missiles, 4 THAAD Radar Sets (3 tactical and one maintenance float), 6 THAAD Fire and Control Communication stations, and 9 THAAD Launchers. This would represent the first foreign sale of the THAAD system.

The UAE is also requesting fire unit maintenance equipment, the heavy trucks that carry the THAAD components, generators, electrical power units, trailers, communications equipment, tools, test and maintenance equipment, repair and return, system integration and checkout, spare/repair parts, publications, documentation, personnel training, training equipment, contractor technical and logistics personnel services, and other related support elements. The estimated cost is $6.95 billion.

The principal contractor is Lockheed Martin Space Systems Corporation in Sunnyvale, CA (THAAD), and the sub-contractor is Raytheon Corporation in Andover, MA (radar).

The UAE will be requesting industrial offsets, which will be negotiated with these contractors. On the other hand, the UAE “does not desire a government support presence in its country on an extended basis.” A total of 66 contractor logistic support personnel could be stationed in United Arab Emirates for extended periods, and additional training and major defense equipment personnel may be in the United Arab Emirates for short periods of time, not to exceed 24 months.  [Defense Industry Daily]

A planned test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system scheduled to be conducted from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii, was not able to be completed today due to an anomaly with the target missile.

The target missile was successfully deployed from a C-17 transport aircraft but the target’s rocket motor did not ignite. The THAAD interceptor missile was not launched; however, the system’s fire control system conducted a number of successful simulations. All THAAD system components were verified to be in working order, and the system was ready to conduct the mission.

Program officials will conduct an extensive investigation to determine the cause of the anomaly.  [MDA Webpage]

THAAD FTT-10 was cancelled back in September 2008 due to a target failure and the FTT was rescheduled and this time successfully executed back in April 2009.  No word from MDA when FTT-11 will be rescheduled.

Back in April, the Obama administration announced a big shift in missile-defense priorities: It would move away from ambitious, technologically shaky “boost phase” defenses, and pour more money into fielding anti-missiles that might actually stop an attack from Iran or North Korea. This week, those retooled defenses get a big test – in Israel.

This week, the United States and Israel kicked off a major air-defense exercise that will test scenarios including coordinated missile barrages launched from Iran or from Syria, as well as shorter-range rocket attacks by Hezbollah or Hamas. The exercise, Juniper Cobra, is part of a series of biannual war games that dates back to 2001, but it’s worth watching closely for several reasons.

First, there’s politics. Brig. Gen. Doron Gavish, commander of the Israel Air Force’s Air Defense Division, said in a press conference that the exercise was not related to Iran’s continued missile tests and enrichment of nuclear fuel. “It is a carefully designed exercise that has been taking place for years.” But Ha’aretz describes the drill as “preparation for a faceoff with Iran.”

Case in point: Juniper Cobra includes a major civil-defense exercise that will test readiness against a catastrophic missile strike against an Israeli city. As part of the contingent of 1,000 U.S. troops taking part in the exercise, the Ohio Army National Guard’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force will take part; the Guardsmen have been training with the Israeli Home Front Command as part of the exercise.

Some of the Obama administration’s favored missile-stoppers will also be deployed for the exercise, including the Army’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and the Navy’s Standard Missile-3 (SM-3), part of the sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense.

The deployment of THAAD — pictured here in a 2006 test — is particularly important. “This unique system intercepts in an transitional area between earth’s atmosphere and space to include a range of 20 miles below and above the 62 mile or 100 kilometer line,” said Riki Ellison, a prominent missile-defense advocate. “None of the current or future deployed missile defense systems intercept in this vertical space. Because of this vertical engagement area capability, the THAAD system can take multiple shots and use the atmosphere to strip off debris and countermeasures to better target the incoming warhead. The larger land-based missile defense system, the GBIs [Ground-Based Interceptors] as well as the sea-based missile defense system, the Aegis and SM-3, intercept above the 100k line at a higher altitudes in space, while the Patriot System ground-based system intercepts missiles in air below the atmosphere.”

The AN/TPY-2 radar — the powerful X-band radar that is part of the THAAD system — was deployed to Israel last year. Military officials have discussed tying this land-based radar to missile-defense ships offshore, creating a more mobile and flexible missile-defense system with wider coverage. [Danger Room]

Read the rest at the link.

The U.S. Army today activated its second Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery during a ceremony at Fort Bliss, Texas. THAAD is a defensive weapon system developed by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, a joint service organization within the Department of Defense.
The ceremony marked the activation of A Battery/2nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command. The battery’s equipment will consist of THAAD interceptors, launchers, a fire control and communications unit and radar. The commander of the new unit is Capt. Brendan McShea.

Col. Joseph DeAntona of 11th Air Defense Artillery “Imperial” Brigade and Col. Bill Lamb of the Missile Defense Agency officiated at the ceremony. Lamb is the THAAD project manager.
A Battery, 4th Regiment, is A-2 ADA’s sister unit and was the first THAAD unit in the U.S. Army. The unit was activated at Fort Bliss in May 2008 with a mission to strategically deploy conducting missile defense in support of geographic combatant commander’s priorities.

THAAD has undergone several years of rigorous testing, designed to push the system into increasingly stressful and operationally realistic scenarios. Since the current round of testing began, THAAD has intercepted every target it has flown against. THAAD is the only defensive weapon that is specifically designed to destroy incoming ballistic missiles both inside and just outside the earth’s atmosphere. It provides protection to deployed troops around the world, as well as to other important assets and population centers against short to medium range ballistic missiles in the terminal, or final, phase of flight. THAAD is an element of the layered, integrated Ballistic Missile Defense System designed to protect the United States, our allies and friends against all types of ballistic missiles in all phases of flight.
The prime contractor for the THAAD missile defense element is Lockheed Martin. [MDA Website]