Theater Missile Defense Integration Issues
Abstract
The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) has undergone numerous revisions since it was announced by then-President Reagan in 1983. Perhaps there has been no more fundamental evolution of SDI than that announced by President Bush in January 1991. After the major European reaction to Reagan's original concepts, reaction to subsequent revisions to SDI programs and priorities has been low key-even though President Bush's approach places greater emphasis on Allied cooperation and theater missile defense (TMD). It is apparent that there are a number of military and political questions and concerns that must be addressed if TMD is to be supported and planned for in the European environment. Some of them have been articulated by members of the U.S. defense community. However, while this paper notes the progress that many European actors have made in resolving TMD issues, for example, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense's Strategic Defense Initiative Program Office has performed three major missile defense architecture studies and the SHAPE Technical Center has been a lead actor in the Extended Air Defense Test Program, clearly there is a need for a more thorough understanding in the U.S. Government of the Alliance perspective and their requirements. After reviewing recent, theater-related TMD activity, this paper suggests a program of study to identify and detail options to meet Allied concerns, to present those concerns to key U.S. Government agencies, and to provide strategic vision for theater missile defense integration. Theater Missile Defense, Alliance strategic concept, Strategic defense.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADB173940
Entities
People
- Randall D. Peat
- Richard C. Goodwin