Accelerated National Ballistic Missile Defense Program Could Be Very Costly.
Abstract
The Clinton Administration's defense plan includes about $2.8 billion for the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) in FY 1997 and a total of $13.5 billion for BMDO programs through FY 2001. The administration's plan focuses on the development and near-term deployment of theater missile defense (TMD) systems designed to protect U.S. forces deployed abroad from attacks by tactical and theater-range ballistic missiles. Under the administration's plan national missile defense (NMD) efforts are limited to a 'technology readiness' program that would allow the United States 'to develop within three years, elements of an initial NMD system that could be deployed within three years of a deployment decision' should a new ballistic missile threat to the United States emerge. In contrast, some members of Congress favor committing the United States to the deployment of a NMD system in the near future. Specifically, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and others have introduced legislation to establish, as U.S. policy, the goal of deploying a NMD system by the end of 2003 that 'is capable of providing a highly effective defense' of U.S. territory against limited, unauthorized or accidental ballistic missile attacks. In addition, the bill calls for the system to be 'augmented over time to provide a layered defense against larger and more sophisticated threats.' The legislation, also known as the "Defend America Act of 1996," was recently approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and is scheduled for a House vote in mid-May. The SASC and the House National Security Committee (HNSC) also appear likely to add as much as $1 billion to the administration's FY 1997 request for BMDO.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA338704