19 August 2011
U.S. Mulls Drone-Based Missile Warning System
Global Security Newswire

Such drone aircraft might patrol a region where a ballistic missile threat appears imminent, establishing a "picket fence" of detection units, said Tim Carey, vice president of intelligence for defense contractor Raytheon, which produces the MTS-B system.

Information collected in preliminary testing demonstrates "just a few [unmanned aerial vehicle] orbits can provide substantial sensor coverage" over a number of locations, U.S. Missile Defense Agency insiders said.

A drone-based ballistic missile detection capability might aid in applications such as monitoring North Korean activities until the anticipated deployment in fiscal 2016 of a space-based tracking system. A $4 billion funding shortfall from fiscal 2013 to fiscal 2017, though, means funding for the planned satellite network might be partially or entirely eliminated.

The Missile Defense Agency in 2010 chose the Reaper aircraft for use in testing the Airborne Infrared System, a planned sensor capability intended to aid in the interception of enemy ballistic missiles prior to their midcourse flight phase.

“If fielded, we envision a podded ABIR capability that could ride on a variety of unmanned or even manned platforms,” Missile Defense Agency spokesman Rick Lehner said.

The Reaper aircraft has collected information in six air trials of Reapers carrying the MTS-B.

“We have been able to improve the pointing accuracy of the sensor (and) we have demonstrated automatic acquisition and tracking of the sensor required to meet system needs,” Lehner said. “Modeling indicates the agility of the sensor will substantially improve the raid-handling capability we currently have.”

The Air Force and Navy would provide input on what aircraft to use for the system if its deployment moves forward (Amy Butler, Aviation Week, Aug. 18).