Military And Intelligence News Briefs — November 11, 2009

Posted at November 11, 2009

An SM-3 is launched from the Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie as part of the Missile Defense Agency’s latest Ballistic Missile Defense System test to defeat a medium-range ballistic missile threat. The missile, part of the Aegis Weapon System, intercepted a target launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on the Hawaiian island of Kauai Dec. 11. This was the fourth successful intercept for Aegis BMD and SM-3. The test included evaluation of the long-range surveillance and tracking capabilities of two Navy ships as well as effective communications between the ships and command and control units. Navy photo.

Hawaii Senator Seeks Missile Defense Project — The Hill

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) is trying to bypass defense authorizers in order to fund a missile defense project in his state.

Inouye wants to use $68.5 million from last year’s missile defense budget for the construction of an Aegis Ashore test facility. He wants to ensure the money is available in the bill funding military construction projects for fiscal 2010, which is under Senate consideration this week.

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff addresses key mobility, Air Force issues at conference – U.S. Air Force

Plan Afoot to Halt F-35 Cost Hikes, Delays — Defense News

The truth about the F-35 program’s delusions of grandeur — ELP Defens(c)e Blog

Most advanced, expensive fighter jet headed to Israel — Haaretz

General Calls for Focus on Protecting Satellites — Defense Talk

The Future of Amphibious Lift Pt 2 — New Wars

Hill Loses; Pentagon Wins — DoD Buzz

US to send $100M worth of weapons to Georgia – intelligence — RT

Part Time Pilots Prevail – Strategy Page

Stitching a Stretchy Crotch — Defense Tech