Blog

 
**Rogue state Iran will upgrade its missile production division, according to news source Xinhua. Brigadier General Mehdi Farahi, head of the Aerospace Organization, said “the reforms are intended to promote efficiency and help fulfill the requirements of the country’s armed forces.”

Additionally, Iran has been developing the Shahab-3 ballistic missile. Although the country denies the allegations, the U.S. believes Iran is developing nuclear weapons. (Xinhua)

**Bizjournals reports that defense contractor Boeing contributed over $193 million to Arizona in 2007. Boeing’s missile defense work on the Ground-based Midcourse Defense program (GMD) generated $94 million in payroll, $137 million in household earnings, and $12.7 million in state and local taxes.

Arizona State University economic professor Lee McPheters said, “Looking at the average earnings across all the jobs created by GMD, both direct and indirect, the GMD program serves not only to expand the size of the economy in Arizona, but also to raise the average standard of living of its residents.” (Bizjournals)

**As expected, the U.S. and Russia are at loggerheads over missile defense bases in Central Europe. Earlier this week, we told you that the two countries would meet to discuss this and other issues. Apparently, the meeting wasn’t fruitful. “On key moments we didn’t succeed in bringing our approaches any closer,” Sergei Ryabkov said. “But this wasn’t unexpected.”

The bottom-line is that Russia wants Barack Obama to kill missile defense base plans in Poland and the Czech Republic, which Russia perceives as a threat. We’d like to think Obama would move forward instead of retreating, but that remains to be seen. We’ll keep you posted. (AP)

 
** Missile Defense Agency director Army Lt. General Patrick J. O’Reilly announced that it successfully fired the Airborne Laser megawatt-class weapons system through the aircraft turret during ground tests at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Download the press release (PDF) for details.

** Although the upper chamber of the Czech Republic’s parliament recently approved the missile defense base deal reached between the Czech Republic and the U.S., the lower house will need to approve the deal before preparations can begin.

Missile defense base plans for the Czech Republic and Poland cannot go forward until both houses of parliaments approve the agreements. (AP)

** South Korea is gearing up to guard against missile attacks from North Korea. The country’s air force has received the first shipment of Patriot missiles from Germany. These used missiles, made in the U.S., will replace South Korea’s aging Nike air defense missiles.

Like Russia, North Korea views South Korea’s plans to defend itself as a threat. Consequently, North Korea has announced “strict curbs on cross-border movements from December 1.” (AFP)

** Boeing’s Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) missile defense operations in Alaska have accounted for over $246 million for the state, according to a new study. Operations resulted in about $52 million in payroll, $72 million in household earnings, and $9 million in state and local taxes.

From the study:

“Of particular interest is the effect in rural areas of Alaska, where the economic activity stimulated by Boeing has offered stable, high-paying employment for residents whose options are very limited,” Hans Geier, an economics professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks said in the report. “This has allowed many families to remain in these local and rural communities, supporting property values, preserving indigenous businesses, local governments and other services.” (UPI)

 
The U.S. and the Czech Republic signed an agreement last week that facilities the development of a missile defense radar base in the Czech Republic. Negotiations for the base took years, but both sides quickly came to an agreement in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Georgia. The base may be operational by 2013. (AFP)

Raytheon and Boeing are developing three prototype air-to-ground missiles, thanks to a $125 million contract awarded by the U.S. Army. Expected to be ready by 2016, the missiles will be made for helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and unmanned air drones. (Boston Business Journal)
 
Last week, Russia successfully launched a Bulava-M submarine-based ballistic missile from the ballistic missile nuclear submarine Dimitry Donskoi. Russia plans to adopt Bulava-M missiles for service with its navy and will commission the first Borey-class strategic nuclear submarine by 2009. (RIA Novosti)

Boeing, industry teammates, and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency have begun testing a high-energy laser at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

After installing the laser aboard the Airborne Laser (ABL) aircraft, the team will test to confirm sequencing and control. Upon completion, the team will fire the laser. The goal of the project is to demonstrate lasing duration at sufficient levels for destroying multiple classes of ballistic missiles.

Mike Rinn, Boeing vice president and ABL program director, said in a press release that the team “has done a great job preparing the high-energy laser for these fuel tests, which will lead the way toward achieving ‘first light’ of the laser aboard the aircraft.”

According to Boeing, the ABL aircraft is a modified Boeing 747-400F designed and built by Northrop Grumman. The front portion holds the beam control/fire control system and battle management system, developed by Lockheed Martin and Boeing, respectively.

The test campaign is set to begin the first airborne intercept of a ballistic missile in 2009.

(Source: Boeing)