Re: Global Military Spending - SIPRI Report & NEWS ONLY
SASC budget document (warning large file) lots of interesting stuff if you go through it but found these missile defense items interesting.
https://www.congress.gov/114/crpt/srpt49/CRPT-114srpt49.pdf
Report on space-based missile defense interceptor
The committee supports the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) efforts
to consider additional capabilities to prevent ballistic missile
attack on the United States, including solutions that would reduce
cost-per-kill. Additionally, the committee is aware of technology development
that focuses on interception in the boost phase of a ballistic
missile. The committee believes that such capabilities that
are both cost-effective and operationally reliable should be explored.
The Senate-passed version of the Duncan Hunter National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 required the Department
of Defense to conduct an independent assessment of the feasibility
and advisability of developing a space-based interceptor (SBI)
element to the ballistic missile defense system. This study was
completed in April 2011 and submitted to Congress. Among its
findings, the study determined that ‘‘the creation, deployment, and
operation of an SBI system would provide a number of strategic
benefits but would also face certain challenges.’’
In order to understand the current status of technologies under
development and those that are potentially capable of providing a
space-based element to the ballistic missile defense system, the
committee directs MDA to submit a report to the congressional defense
committees no later than 90 days after the date of enactment
of this act that includes the following elements: (1) an assessment
of the need for a space-based interceptor element to the ballistic
missile defense system, including an assessment of the extent to
which there is a ballistic missile threat that such an interceptor
would address; (2) whether other elements of the ballistic missile
defense system could be modified to meet that threat; (3) an assessment
of the components and capabilities and the maturity of critical
technologies necessary to make such a space-based interceptor
element operational; (4) an estimate of the total cost for the life
cycle of such a space-based interceptor element, including the costs
of research, development, demonstration, procurement, deployment,
and launching of the element; (5) an assessment of the effectiveness
of such a space-based interceptor element in intercepting ballistic
missiles and the survivability of the element in case of attack;
(6) an assessment of possible debris generated from the use or testing
of such a space-based interceptor element; and (7) an assessment
of any command, control, or battle management considerations
of using such a space-based interceptor element, including
estimated timelines for the detection of ballistic missiles, decision making
with respect to the use of the element, and interception of
the missile by the element. The report shall be submitted in unclassified
form, but may include a classified annex.
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Multiple Object Kill Vehicle
The budget request included $46.7 million for Research, Development,
Test, and Evaluation, Defense-wide, PE 63294C, for Common
Kill Vehicle Technology, which includes development of the Multiple
Object Kill Vehicle (MOKV). According to the Director of the
Missile Defense Agency, a multi-object kill capability would ‘‘revolutionize’’
the missile defense architecture, permitting the destruction
of several threat objects with a single ground-based interceptor
missile. The committee believes the MOKV program should be a
high priority of the Missile Defense Agency. Accordingly, the committee
recommends an increase of $20.0 million in PE 63294C for
the MOKV development program.
