It looks like the testing is going well. It seems to me, though, that this program could move a lot faster if they would commit to it now, instead of dithering around with decisions as to whether to move on the next phases. It's exactly the kind of program that we need to mitigate the ASAT threat.

This type of weapon has been tested against satellites before. The US developed and tested a system back in the eighties that was air launched from an F-15, to provide maximum stealth and flexibility of trajectory and to avoid the need to wait for a satellite's ground track to cross the fixed launch site. But this was unprecedented, in that it was the first that we know of to be launched directly from the ground.

Huh? Sounds like a minor improvement to me over the F-15 launched rocket. The real problem is that China is developing several ways to take down expensive, hard to replace satellites. That's going to crimp the US's strategic options with systems that depend on satellites.

You know, one advantage of a real Saturn V class heavy launcher is you could take a EELV class spy sat and put M1 Tank level Depleted Uranium lined Armor on it.

Or you could add it on orbit. Solar panels would be hard to protect, could just keep several extra sets undeployed in reserve on the sat. Sensors could be pulled inside when alerted.

Either or, easier or heavier lift could make really robust LEO's possible.

The F-15 based system was better in a number of ways. Because of the lower signature launch, more chance of a suprise. The ability of the launch platform to be located world wide, easily, made every orbit vulnerable. There were even proposals to base some of the ASATs on carriers - the F-14 could easily carry one.