Article

2016-03-17 Science & Technology

Pentagon skips tests on key component of U.S.-based missile defense system

"Against the advice of its own panel of outside experts, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency is forgoing tests meant to ensure that a critical component of the nation’s homeland missile defense system will work as intended.

The tests that are being skipped would evaluate the reliability of small motors designed to help keep rocket interceptors on course as they fly toward incoming warheads."

Posted by Vast Right Wing Conspiracy 2016-03-17 11:27|| || Front Page|| [6 views ] Top

#1 Sounds like your typical IT project. Testing is always the first thing to go to meet the deadline or, occasionally, the budget.

After testing it's documentation and/or training.

Posted by AlanC 2016-03-17 12:22|| 2016-03-17 12:22|| Front Page Top

#2 We can test it later when we have more time. For now, we must meet THE SCHEDULE!

Posted by SteveS 2016-03-17 12:35|| 2016-03-17 12:35|| Front Page Top

#3 These motors don't have to go through quality tests before they are shipped?

Or is the gubbamint skipping the "test 2/3 of the motors to failure, just to be sure"?

Posted by Bobby 2016-03-17 13:17|| 2016-03-17 13:17|| Front Page Top

#4 The approach, [he] said, conjures the old saying, "Why is there never enough time to do it right—but always enough time to do it over?"

A lot of people are not familiar with that phrase.

Posted by Bobby 2016-03-17 13:21|| 2016-03-17 13:21|| Front Page Top

#5 Read the article. They did all kinds of tests and the things worked. Getting these things in a silo right away is important, because it creates uncertainty in threat planning.

While that is happening, if really needed, these components can be tested in parallel, and if any fail, then produce some new ones and put them in the silo on the QT.

But get pretty likely to work systems in the ground right now.

Posted by rammer 2016-03-17 13:47|| 2016-03-17 13:47|| Front Page Top

#6 Lefties always say missile defense can't work, so why bother to test? /snark

Posted by M. Murcek 2016-03-17 14:48|| 2016-03-17 14:48|| Front Page Top

#7 'Tested in simulation'
Fun with statistics...unfortunately, there may not be "time to do it over."

Posted by Skidmark 2016-03-17 17:51|| 2016-03-17 17:51|| Front Page Top

#8 then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld exempted the missile agency from the Pentagon’s standard procurement rules and testing standards.
There are things we know and things we know we don't know....

Posted by Betty White1068 2016-03-17 21:39|| 2016-03-17 21:39|| Front Page Top

01:34 Grom the Reflective
01:32 crazyhorse
01:07 Grom the Reflective
00:28 Angealing+B.+Hayes4677