With Iran inching closer to amassing enough weapons-grade uranium for a nuclear bomb, Boeing and the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) have announced that they successfully demonstrated an advanced interceptor capability for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system.
The GMD system will defend the United States from long-range intercontinental ballistic missile threats. According to Boeing, GMD provides “the only capability to engage and defeat” long-range ballistic missile threats.
The test included launching a Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) into space with a three-stage booster in two-stage mode, allowing the GBI to release the interceptor missile earlier in flight, to destroy a missile sooner after launch.
Boeing said that it upgraded the digital system modeling software to develop the new capability, which will give operators the real-time choice between a two-stage or three-stage interceptor depending on the location and speed of the incoming missile.
According to the defense company, the stage mode determines when the kill vehicle is released from the GBI, and is a “critical capability” for MDA’s Service Life Extension Program.
“The GMD system is reliable and ready if called upon to defend the nation,” Debbie Barnett, Boeing GMD vice president and program director was quoted as saying. “For more than 20 years, Boeing has led the development, integration, and maintenance of this system. We’re proud to continue these efforts for the fielded GMD system to ensure the continued defense of the United States for years to come.”
On Monday, the Institute for Science and International Security issued a report warning that after studying recent findings by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Tehran could have enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon in a month.
“Overall, the IAEA’s latest report shows Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear activities and steps to limit IAEA monitoring, while inspectors have a diminishing ability to detect Iranian diversion of assets to undeclared facilities,” the report said. “The IAEA is sounding an alarm to the international community accordingly.”
According to the IAEA report, Iran could have enough enriched uranium for two weapons within three months and will have enough for three within five months.
The announcement also came less than a day after North Korea tested a cruise missile with possible nuclear capability.
Pyongyang said on Sunday that it carried out a successful test of a new long-range cruise missile over the weekend that flew 1,500 km. before hitting its target and falling into the country’s territorial waters.
The test provides “strategic significance of possessing another effective deterrence means for more reliably guaranteeing the security of our state and strongly containing the military maneuvers of the hostile forces,” state media KCNA said.