Long-Range Ballistic Missile Defense in Europe
Abstract
In the FY2008 defense budget, the Bush Administration requested about $310 million to begin design, construction, and deployment of a ground-based midcourse defense (GMD) element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) in Europe. According to the Administration, the proposed GMD European capability would help defend U.S. forces stationed in Europe, U.S. friends and allies in the region, as well as to defend the United States against long-range ballistic missile threats, namely from Iran. For FY2009, the Administration requested $720 million for development, fielding, and military construction of the European GMD element. The proposed system would include 10 silo-based interceptors to be deployed in Poland, a fixed radar installation in the Czech Republic, and another transportable radar to be deployed in a country closer to the Middle East. Deployment of the GMD European capability is scheduled to be completed by 2013 at an estimated cost of $4.8 billion (up from an estimated $4 billion in the FY2008 budget request). The prospect of a GMD capability based in Europe raises a number of significant international security and foreign policy questions. Central to the debate for many is how the proposed U.S. system might affect U.S.-European-Russian relations. For FY2008, Congress eliminated funding to start construction of the European site pending final approval of international agreements with Poland and the Czech Republic and an independent study of alternative missile defense options for Europe. Congress's decision on whether to fund the European site proposal in the FY2009 defense budget will likely continue to revolve around its assessment of broader security and foreign policy issues and technical concerns related to the proposed European system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 19, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA478407
Entities
People
- Carl Ek
- Steven A. Hildreth
Organizations
- Library of Congress