[NYTr] Canadian Navy Tests US "Defense Missile" for Arctic

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

sent by mart

The Times Colonist (victoria, CA) - Nov 1, 2007
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=1565178c-8bab-49ea-8ab8-2c5ab7e70992

OR: http://tinyurl.com/2ccfr5

Frigate prepares to test-fire high-tech defensive missile

Sandra Mcculloch, Times Colonist

If the weather co-operates, an Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile loaded with
sensors will be fired from HMCS Calgary this morning to intercept an
airborne target within a 15-kilometre range.

The missile is designed to shoot down other airborne missiles.

The firing of the $1-million missile is the culmination of months of
preparation, said the commander of the Esquimalt-based ship.

"It's a big step forward for our navy," said Cmdr. Kelly Larkin via
satellite link from the ship yesterday.

It is the third time the Canadian navy has fired the missile, but the
first time it's been done in the Pacific in a U.S. missile-testing
range. The Canadian navy has fired older versions of the weapon, but
this new and improved missile has been hotly anticipated.

"HMCS Calgary has been, for the past eight months, involved in a
tiered-readiness program," said Larkin.

Rigorous training and trials among Calgary's 220 officers and sailors
have led up to the five-week exercise that is underway off the
California coast, said Larkin. HMCS Calgary is one of five ships from
CFB Esquimalt taking part in the exercise. HMCS Protecteur, Algonquin,
Ottawa and Vancouver and 1,100 crew are also there alongside the USS
Abraham Lincoln strike group.

"The ship is now most of the way through that readiness process," said
Larkin.

"One of the final checks is this missile shoot to prove that we are
technically capable to competently fire this missile."

Overseeing the missile firing will be Lt.-Cmdr. Steven Thornton, the
above-water battle space co-ordinator for the Canadian Forces Maritime
Warfare Centre.

"I have the dream job, really," said Thornton, who is involved in all
of the missile firings by the Canadian navy.

"It's really what I joined the navy for and I'm very lucky to be in
this position."

Today's firing "is very significant," said Thornton.

"We use each live firing to validate our various models and simulators.
The planning process starts a year in advance."

The firing exercise will occur in a U.S. navy testing area that's been
cleared of other boats and low-flying aircraft, Larkin said.

"We have aircraft up doing aerial surveillance to ensure there's no
shipping in the area other than myself and one other exercise
participant and no aircraft that can venture into the area," said
Larkin.

The missile is not armed with an exploding warhead. Instead, it has
telemetric instruments that send feedback to the ship on everything the
missile is doing.

"Every single command that the ship issues to the missile on its way to
the target and everything that the missile sees once it starts homing
on the target is captured and transmitted back to the ship," said
Larkin.

Every single action in the operations room, including everything that
is said, is also recorded.

"Absolutely everything is recorded for post-analysis. It's a technical
firing more than a tactical firing."

The Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile is 4.26 metres in length, 25
centimetres in diameter and weighs 227 kilograms. The vertical
launchers are located in the middle of the ship.

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