Sat, Aug 16, 2003
Hello, Adak.
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announced today that it has
selected Adak (AK), as the Primary Support Base (PSB) for the
Sea-Based X-Band (SBX) radar. The PSB includes a mooring site
and minimum logistics support for the SBX. The SBX is a part
of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, a missile
defense system designed to intercept and destroy long-range
ballistic missiles aimed at the US homeland.
The selection of Adak is contained in the Record of Decision
signed by MDA director Lt. Gen. Ronald T. Kadish, as part of the
recently completed GMD extended test range final environmental
impact statement (FEIS). The FEIS analyzed the impacts of the
proposed action and alternatives to establish an extended test
range capability to provide more realistic flight-testing of the
GMD system. The FEIS examined development of the capability
for single and dual launches of interceptor and target missiles and
supporting infrastructure at various locations in the Pacific.
Besides Adak, five other locations were considered: Naval
Base Ventura County (CA); Naval Station Everett, (WA); Reagan Test
Site, Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands; Port of
Valdez, (AK) and Naval Station Pearl Harbor (HI). The
selection of Adak was the result of extensive analysis of numerous
factors relating to operations, support and sustainability,
including easy access to potential operating areas and available
support infrastructure.
The SBX vessel, a self-propelled semi-submersible modified
oil-drilling platform, will be modified and payloads installed at
shipyards in Brownsville and Corpus Christi, Texas, and is
scheduled to begin supporting GMD operations in 2005. The SBX
will provide detailed ballistic missile tracking information to the
GMD system, as well as advanced target and countermeasures
discrimination capability for the GMD interceptor missiles.
The ability of the SBX to deploy to operating locations under its
own power allows it to support actual GMD operations as well as
realistic testing. The SBX is approximately 390 feet long and
250 feet high, and has a displacement of 50,000 tons.
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