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Reuters reports that costs for a missile defense program between the U.S. and Japan have risen. The Raytheon-built Standard Missile 3 Block IIA (SM-3 IIA) ballistic missile interceptor is expected to cost $3.1 billion, $700 million more than initially expected.

The U.S. and Japan partnered to build the SM-3 IIA after North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile over Japan in 1998. The new missile defense system would help protect Japan with fewer ships during an attack. U.S. Rear Admiral Brad Hicks said other countries are interested in similar partnerships.

What caused costs to climb? Hicks points to the defense budget. The Pentagon canceled Lockheed Martin’s Multiple Kill Vehicle program, which affected SM-3 IIA missile technology. As expected, Iran’s and North Korea’s nuclear ambitions raise the stakes in the effort to fund missile defense programs. The president proposes to slash $1.4 billion from the missile defense budget, although the budget may include funding to increase production of Aegis ships equipped with 218 SM-3 missiles.

 
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has awarded Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne a $12 million contract to begin designing, building, integrating, and testing a prototype Divert and Attitude Control System (DACS)  for supplying power to kinetic vehicles on missile interceptors. (Source)

“The Pathfinder DACS will use existing Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne propulsion system technology, which will significantly lower development risk, cost and time,” says Pratt and Whitney. The prototype will be tested sometime in mid-2010; hover tests will occur in early 2011.

DACS is part of the Multiple Kill Vehicle program designed to intercept and destroy multiple ballistic missiles. The ability to destroy intercontinental, warhead-equipped ballistic missiles is crucial.