Written by / Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
MSMF 2009 Volume: 2 Issue: 3 (May)
MOU Formalizes Partnership Between ITT and EAI
In creating a new strategic partnership between the companies, this agreement will enable a strong alliance in the fields of communications, sensing and surveillance, space, and advanced engineering and services. The partnership will allow the two parties to explore and develop strategic opportunities.
“Space is one of our core areas of business. Any specific opportunities in this area are undefined at this time,” David Albritton, ITT spokesman, told MSMF.
David Albritton: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
HASC Subcommittee Chairwoman Comments on Global BMDS Issues
Rep. Ellen Tauscher, chairwoman, Strategic Forces Subcomittee, House Armed Services Committee, discussed global BMDS issues during the 7th MDA/ AIAA Missile Defense Conference attended by MSMF. An extract of her comments is provided.
“What’s most puzzling to me about the debate over the European Site is that proponents of the site have been running around with their hair on fire warning about a long range threat from Iran that does not exist. They have said little or nothing to address the existing threat.
“My position has always been that before we move to expand the GMD system, we need a little common sense; that is to say, more of a ‘first things first’ approach. “We need to take a number of specific steps. First, along with our allies, we need to develop and deploy sufficient theater missile defense capabilities to counter the existing short and medium threats.
“I never understood why the previous administration did not make this the first step in their plans for European missile defense. The existing threat seemed to be an afterthought.
“Second, we need to have a greater degree of confidence that the GMD system will work before we make a decision to expand it.
“This is why Congress included a provision in the Defense Authorization bill last year that prohibits the Pentagon from acquiring or deploying operational GMD interceptors in Europe until the Secretary of Defense certifies to Congress that they work.
“I expect that Congress will maintain this prohibition.
“Third, the Obama administration is doing the right thing by undertaking a review of the proposed European site. Given the key political, strategic and technical issues associated with the proposed deployment, a review is fully justified and necessary.”
General Chilton Targets Export Controls
General Kevin Chilton, commander, USSTRATCOM, told a House Armed Services Committee hearing that current export controls on space technologies have already damaged the space industrial base to the point where U.S. national security may be jeopardized in the future.
“I remain concerned that our won civil and commercial space enterprise, which is essential to the military space industrial base, may be unnecessarily constrained by export control and legislation and regulation,” he said in his written for-the-record testimony.
While he cautioned that “legitimate national security concerns must continue to underlie the needs to restrict the export of certain space-related technologies, equipment and services,” he added, “However, appropriate flexibility to permit relevant technology transfers to our allies, or decontrol of some technologies in a timely fashion when commercial availability renders their control no longer necessary should be considered to help ensure our space industrial base in the future.”
Chilton’s concerns on this topic support previous warnings from aerospace industry executives and defense industry panels.
DoD Report on China Released
DoD’s Annual Report to Congress Military Power of the People’s Republic of China 2009 provides an abundance of open source information for the community. Among the report’s declarations is the PRC will have a strengthened deterrent and enhanced strike capability, due in part, to the projected new class of SSBN with submarine-launched ballistic missiles in 2009–2010. The report is available at http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/pdfs/china_military_ power_report_2009.pdf.