Missile Defense Faces $2 Billion Cut
With rogue states like Iran and North Korea building up missile defense systems and Russia trying to assert dominance, the last thing the U.S. needs to do is cut the missile defense budget. But that’s exactly what’s happening. The Obama administration is seeking to cut $2 billion in missile defense funding from the FY 2010 budget. (Source)
The Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance naturally expressed concerns about the proposed cuts. Boeing’s modified 747, which would stop ballistic missiles shortly after launch, was in “very serious jeopardy of being taken out,” according to Riki Ellison, head of the alliance.
Lockheed Martin’s Multiple Kill Vehicle (MKV) and Northrop Grumman’s and Raytheon’s Space-Based Surveillance and Tracking System might see reduced funding as well. The MKV is designed to stop complex ballistic threats during the midcourse phase of flight with multiple kill vehicles launched from a single interceptor.
One of the “tough choices” of the bad economy is possible cuts to missile defense shields in Poland and the Czech Republic. President Obama appears to be hedging on the agreements as it is. Reducing the budget would be the perfect excuse to renege on the plans. Obama may use the planned shields as a sort of bargaining chip in our country’s negotiations with Russia. If Russia helps stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, the story goes, the U.S. will back off building those bases in Central Europe.
The question is, can Russia be trusted? Either way, the new administration is ready, willing, and able to undercut U.S. plans to build a strong and comprehensive missile defense strategy, with the economy serving as a convenient excuse.
Tags: 747, Barack Obama, Boeing, Czech Republic, Iran, Multiple Kill Vehicle, North Korea, Poland, Russia