Think Tank: Missile Defense Budget Cuts Harmful
According to a new report from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, the administration’s shift from emphasizing strategic ballistic missile interception systems to battlefield missile defense would save money but hamper our ability to protect against missile attacks. (Source)
The Obama administration proposes to cut $1.4 billion from the missile defense budget. The report’s author notes the administration’s proposal to reduce ground-based interceptors from 44 to 30 with no plans to replace or replenish the program. The budget for the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system would be reduced by 35 percent, and the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense program would see cuts for the next fiscal year.
The Airborne Laser (ABL) program, which had its first successful in-flight test this week, would see a $214 million decrease if the budget is passed. Perhaps the success of the ABL will prompt the president to commission another ABL aircraft.
The administration proposes to cancel the Multiple Kill Vehicle and Kinetic Energy Interceptor programs.
See the Center’s 50-page report (PDF) for analyses of how these budget cuts affect our national defense.
Tags: ABL, Airborne Laser, GMD, Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, Kinetic Energy Interceptor, Multiple Kill Vehicle, Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense program