August 13, 2001

August 13, 2001

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COVER STORY

Killing Missiles At the Speed of Light

By ROBERT WALL7 min

COVER STORY

Growing Interest Bolsters BPI

By ROBERT WALL6 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

777 Expands Its Niche With Derivatives

By JAMES OTT6 min

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5455
COVER STORY

Killing Missiles At the Speed of Light

WASHINGTON After more than 20 years of research, U.S. military officials believe they are on the verge of demonstrating the ability to destroy a boosting ballistic missile using a high-power laser. The Pentagon is betting heavily on directed-energy weapons because the time-lines for a boost-phase intercept kill are extremely short.

By ROBERT WALL7 min

5253
COVER STORY

Growing Interest Bolsters BPI

Efforts are being expanded to kill ballistic missiles within seconds of launch, but skeptics question feasibility

By ROBERT WALL6 min

2425
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

777 Expands Its Niche With Derivatives

CINCINNATI DENVER The two planned derivatives of the Boeing 777—which will bring the total models to five—are approaching milestones that will fix the wide-body transport on a new course to becoming one of Boeing’s most successful niche aircraft.

By JAMES OTT6 min

2829
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Pace of Proliferation Key to Missile Debate

WASHINGTON The intellectual storm that has burst over President Bush’s bid to revolutionize deterrence centers on whether missile defense will inhibit or incite more proliferation of missile technology. The Administration resoundingly proclaims that ballistic missile defense (BMD) will curb proliferation simply by diminishing the practical value and usefulness of offensive missiles.

By PAUL MANN6 min

2829
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Italy’s Woes Could Undercut Defense

PARIS A ballooning budget deficit may make it impossible for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to increase government support for the aerospace and defense industry, as he has promised to do. Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti’s bombshell last month that the government deficit was likely to reach 1.9% of gross domestic product, and perhaps zoom as high as 2.6%—perilously close to the 3% stability pact ceiling for euro-participating nations—is putting pressure on Berlusconi to pare back government spending.

By MICHAEL A. TAVERNA6 min

2425
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Boeing Eyes Moving Line To Reduce 747 Costs

The program aims to have a continuously moving 747 line by 2004 if initial work goes according to plan

By BRUCE A. SMITH5 min

3031
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Upgrades Bolster Launch Capability

CAPE CANAVERAL More than $500 million in Air Force Eastern Range and 45th Space Wing upgrades to enable more rapid, cost-effective launch operations at Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center received a baptism by fire last week by supporting major Titan and Delta launches and a space shuttle countdown—all in the span of four days.

By CRAIG COVAULT5 min

3233
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Satellites, UAVs To Probe Storms

WASHINGTON Scientists and pilots are converging on Florida for a six-week research campaign that will use a fleet of satellites, aircraft and sea-skimming unpiloted “aerosondes” to probe the fury of Atlantic hurricanes from the cloud tops to the sea surface.

By FRANK MORRING4 min

5455
COVER STORY

Sea-Based BPI Takes Baby Steps

Washington The newest missile defense concept to emerge from the Pentagons expanded research effort is sea-based boost-phase intercept. Although never tried, Defense Dept. officials believe it may offer a promising path, especially if other BPI efforts founder.

By Robert Wall4 min

5859
COVER STORY

Space-Based Interceptor Gets New Lease on Life

By ROBERT WALL3 min

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