Edward O'Hara, a member of the British Socialist Group in the WEU, offered a new report called "Missile defense -- a common European position" that had been prepared by the WEU's Technological and Aerospace Committee.

O�Hara said the assembly had "concerns about the risk of a new arms race," but that it nevertheless regarded the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as "the essential source of the threat" to the European continent.

However, a WEU statement said O'Hara also cautioned that the growing tensions between Russia and the United States over U.S. plans to deploy BMD interceptors and radar facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic could lead to far worse relations between Russia and Europe as well.

"Considering that Russia should always be involved in the European debate, (O'Hara) added that the desire to 'maintain good relations with the United States' should not prevent Europeans from having a 'healthy skepticism' about the wisdom of deploying parts of the American anti-missile system in Europe," the WEU statement said. "He welcomed the fact that Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the CFSP, felt that the EU should debate anti-missile defense given that the issue might affect European security."

The assembly concluded that it was necessary to "undertake a common analysis and assessment of the threat to Europe from WMD and missile attacks" and to "develop a common European position on non-proliferation, export control regimes and missile defense technology."

Lockheed Martin delivers SBIRS software

Lockheed Martin announced June 5 that its Space-Based Infrared System, or SBIRS, development team "has successfully delivered key ground segment software to support the launch of the program's first geosynchronous (GEO-1) satellite.

"SBIRS will provide the nation with greatly enhanced missile warning capabilities and support other vital mission areas simultaneously including missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace characterization."

Lockheed Martin said its Information Systems and Global Services builds and maintains the SBIRS ground segment. "The software block, known as GEO Early On-Orbit Test (GEOT-D) was delivered to Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Sunnyvale, Calif., prime contractor for the SBIRS program, three months ahead of schedule. This is the first software delivery capable of supporting a GEO launch," the company said.

"With the completion of this milestone, the Lockheed Martin SBIRS Ground Segment team has illustrated its continued focus on customer satisfaction," said John Mengucci, president of the company's Mission and Combat Support Solutions business unit. "We are on schedule and well-positioned to continue to meet program commitments."

Lockheed Martin said the GEOT-D software "includes 1.6 million source lines of code (and) provides functionality for launch of the GEO-1 satellite."

"Subsequent ground segment deliveries will provide capabilities for early orbit testing and initial GEO operations, followed by the full capabilities block to operate the Defense Support Program, and SBIRS highly elliptical orbit (HEO) and GEO spacecraft constellation. Each of these operational blocks will provide new surveillance capabilities to the warfighter," the company said.

"As a result of sustained energy and focus, our team has greatly improved program execution, completed key milestones on time and is on a continuous effort to improve quality," said Mark Crowley, Lockheed Martin SBIRS vice president and program manager. "SBIRS will deliver revolutionary new detection and surveillance capabilities, and we look forward to achieving mission success for our customer."

Nelson says Oz has BMD 'responsibility'

Australian Defense Minister Brendan Nelson this weekend spelled out some of the thinking behind his government's decision to more actively explore the prospects for developing its own BMD programs.

The Melbourne Age newspaper reported Sunday that Nelson told the country's Nine broadcasting network that North Korea's drive to develop its own nuclear weapons and ballistic missile delivery systems to carry them put a responsibility on Australia to cooperate more closely with its regional allies the United States and Japan, both of which were energetically developing BMD programs of their own.

The Age quoted Nelson as saying that North Korea's activities were taking place in a region where Canberra had $150 billion a year in trade activities. The newspaper noted that the comments came only a few days after Nelson and Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer discussed major security problems with their opposite numbers in the Japanese government.

"One part of those discussions is obviously the missile defense capability being developed jointly between Japan and the United States," Nelson told the Nine network. "Australia must responsibly make sure that we have the potential to have ships deployed which can protect our troops and our allies.

"What Australia is responsibly doing is examining the extent to which we might develop some kind of limited anti-ballistic missile defense capability."

The Age said the main thrust of practical Australian BMD development was centered around buying or building new destroyers for its navy that might carry the U.S. Standard Missile-3, the backbone of the Aegis air defense and anti-ballistic missile system.

The issue has become a political football in Australia. The Age noted that opposition Labor Party leader Kim Beazley claimed that the government's efforts could involve Australia in a regional arms race.

Related Links
Assembly of the Western European Union
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

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