Pentagon blocks 400 million dollar missile defense contract

[unhappycamper]

Pentagon blocks 400 million dollar missile defense contract
AFP
Published: Tuesday August 17, 2010

The Pentagon announced Tuesday that it has blocked a 400 million dollar contract with Lockheed Martin because a component in an army missile defense system had failed to pass key tests.

"A safety device on board the missile has not passed qualification tests as yet," said Richard Lehner, spokesman for the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency.

As a result, the agency withheld the contract to build the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile (THAAD), until the problem is fixed and it passes the required tests, he said.

The THAAD missiles, which are designed to intercept incoming short and medium-range ballistic missiles in the outer edges of the Earth's atmosphere, were expected to play a key role in US plans to shield US forces in the Middle East against Iranian missile attack.

Cheryl Amerine, a Lockheed Martin spokeswoman, said the contractor was working closely with the Pentagon to resolve the problems with the device, called an optical block switch.

[Orrex]

1. The failure of the missile defense system is obvious

Since, after all, the system is designed and intended to funnel billions of dollars into the weapon-building companies, then there's obviously a snag if those builders can't get their hands on this $400M.

[DainBramaged]

2. Iranian missile attack

That's like saying dogs and cats can make kitpups. Who are they fucking kidding with this shit? Just more reason to keep the industry alive.

[lonestarnot]

3. Who needs missile defense, we have drones.

;)

[ixion]

4. Plus, you know, it doesn't work...