Conventional Warheads for Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues for Congress
Abstract
The United States has deployed long-range ballistic missiles in its strategic offensive nuclear forces for more than 40 years. In recent years, some have proposed that the United States deploy conventional warheads on these missiles. This would provide the United States with the ability to strike promptly anywhere in the world, regardless of the presence of overseas bases or nearby naval forces. The Air Force and Navy have both studied the possible deployment of conventional warheads on their long-range ballistic missiles. The Air Force has been pursuing, with DARPA, research into a number of technologies that might enhance the U.S. long-range strike capability. These include a hypersonic glide vehicle, known as the Common Aero Vehicle (CAV), that could carry conventional munitions on modified Minuteman II or Peacekeeper missiles, or it could deploy these missiles with more familiar conventional warheads. This effort is now known as the Conventional Strike Missile (CSM) and could be deployed as a mid-term option for the Prompt Global Strike mission. The FY2007 Defense Budget requested $127 million to pursue the deployment of conventional warheads on Trident missiles, which might be deployed in 2-4 years, but the 109th Congress rejected most of this request. The FY2008 budget requested $175.4 million, but the 110th Congress did not approve this funding, either, instead transferring $100 million to a combined fund to conduct research into a broad range of ?prompt global strike? technologies. In the FY2009 budget, the Administration requested $117.6 million for the prompt global strike program element.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 26, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA494849
Entities
People
- Amy F. Woolf
Organizations
- Library of Congress