United States Looking at Russian Radars, Targets to Help Missile Defense Development

The United States is considering using Russian radar systems and targets in U.S. missile defense efforts, Representative Curt Weldon (R-Pa.) said Wednesday (see GSN, March 30).

The Missile Defense Agency is interested in using Russia’s “very good” expertise in constructing ballistic missile-tracking radars, Weldon said. By obtaining access to radars in Russia, the United States could improve its monitoring of potential Chinese or North Korean ballistic missile threats, he said.

In addition, the missile agency would like to work with Russia on producing targets for use in missile defense tests, according to Weldon. He said, though, that it is unlikely that Russia would agree to participate in that effort.

“I don’t think the Russians really want to be in a position of having America constantly shoot down what they put up in space,” Weldon said (Marc Selinger, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, May 13).

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