Report to the Congress on the Strategic Defense Initiative, 1989
Abstract
This report summarizes the SDI legacy of President Reagan, who launched the initiative with his speech of March 23, 1983. It describes in detail our current assessment of the best program for the resolution of remain technical issues, the validation of technologies, and the demonstration of our ability to integrate them. This program of research, development and testing would, if adequately funded, support a fully informed decision by the President and Congress in the future on whether to deploy a strategic defense of the United States. Such defenses could enhance deterrence and increase stability. In an effort to reduce the overall costs of a first-phase Strategic Defense System, the DOD recently completed an intensive review of the modifications made to date toward this end. The projected cost of the first phase of a Strategic Defense system has been reduced dramatically from the earlier estimate of $115 billion to $69 billion while maintaining the capability to contribute to deterrence. The review also confirmed that SDI is proceeding in the right direction toward development of a comprehensive space and ground-based Strategic Defense System.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 13, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA206944
Entities
Organizations
- Ballistic Missile Defense Organization