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Wright, David and Laura Grego. "Anti-Satellite Capabilities of Planned US Missile Defence Systems." Disarmament Diplomacy. No. 68 (December 2002-January 2003). [ 5 quotes ]
Evidence Related to this Citation
U.S. Ground-Based Missile Defense Interceptors could be Effective as Anti-Satellite Weapons
The Bush administration plans to field five ground-based missile defence interceptors at Fort Greely in central Alaska by late 2004. These interceptors will consist of a three-stage rocket booster that carries a kill vehicle into space. The kill vehicle, which is intended to intercept above the atmosphere, carries its own fuel for manoeuvring, as well as optical and infrared sensors, which are intended to allow it to track and home in on an object, and destroy it by direct impact. As we discuss below, it appears that these interceptors could be effective as ASATs against a large fraction of to be 7 to 8 km/s. ( More ... )
Wright, David and Laura Grego. "Anti-Satellite Capabilities of Planned US Missile Defence Systems." Disarmament Diplomacy. No. 68 (December 2002-January 2003). [ 5 quotes ]
Sea-Based Midcourse Defense System would have Latent Anti-Satellite Weapon Capability
The Aegis-LEAP system reportedly has a burnout speed of 3 km/s. Fired vertically for use as an ASAT, the kill vehicle would be able to reach altitudes of 400 to 500 kilometers and attack satellites at those altitudes. However, these low altitudes include a relatively small number of satellites: a few imaging satellites and some military communication and electronic intelligence satellites in highly elliptical orbits, most of which currently are owned by the United States. ( More ... )
Wright, David and Laura Grego. "Anti-Satellite Capabilities of Planned US Missile Defence Systems." Disarmament Diplomacy. No. 68 (December 2002-January 2003). [ 5 quotes ]
U.S. Air-Borne Laser Missile Defense System could be Used as an Anti-Satellite Weapon
Publicly available analyses estimate that the full-power laser being developed may be able to destroy missiles at a range of a few hundred kilometers with a dwell time of 10 to 20 seconds. Considerable uncertainties remain, however. An intercept test using a half power laser against a short-range missile is planned for late 2004. If ABL can be developed for the anti-missile role, it would also be able to damage satellites in low-earth orbit. ( More ... )
Wright, David and Laura Grego. "Anti-Satellite Capabilities of Planned US Missile Defence Systems." Disarmament Diplomacy. No. 68 (December 2002-January 2003). [ 5 quotes ]
Missile Defense Systems are much more Effective Against Satellites than Against Missiles
Indeed, while the technologies being developed for long-range missile defences may not prove very effective at defending against ballistic missiles, some could be much more effective against satellites, since in many ways attacking satellites is an easier task. Satellites travel on predictable orbits that can be determined accurately by tracking from ground facilities, allowing the position of the satellite to be known at future times. The United States would have time to plan an attack, could choose the timing, and would have time to take as many shots as necessary to destroy it. ( More ... )
Wright, David and Laura Grego. "Anti-Satellite Capabilities of Planned US Missile Defence Systems." Disarmament Diplomacy. No. 68 (December 2002-January 2003). [ 5 quotes ]
Planned Missile Defense Systems would Give U.S. Latent Anti-Satellite Weapons Capability
The United States currently has some capability to disrupt or destroy satellites as a result of the aircraft-launched ASAT it tested several times in the 1980s, as well as ground-based lasers and electronic jammers. Therefore, the ASAT capability added by missile defence systems would not be unique. However, current US ASAT capability is fairly limited and, based on current funding levels, dedicated ASAT systems appear not to be high priorities. Some of the planned missile defence systems, on the other hand, would add significant ASAT capability to the US arsenal and have strong political and financial support. This fact should be kept in mind when analysing US capabilities and developing policies relevant to restricting ASATs. ( More ... )
Wright, David and Laura Grego. "Anti-Satellite Capabilities of Planned US Missile Defence Systems." Disarmament Diplomacy. No. 68 (December 2002-January 2003). [ 5 quotes ]