By Dave Ahearn
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates yesterday afternoon unveiled his wishes for defense spending in the next budget year that would curb procurement in the Airborne Laser and Ground-based Midcourse Defense missile protection programs.
His plan next year would purchase no more aircraft beyond the one ABL plane now operating, and would buy no further interceptors for the GMD system in Alaska, contrary to earlier plans. Rather, there would be testing on the GMD system. The ABL has affordability and technology problems, and its operational role is highly questionable, Gates asserted.
He also proposes using old money from the current budget year to fund the European Missile Defense program in the next budget.
Each of those programs is led by Boeing [BA].
The Kinetic Energy Interceptor program–like ABL, KEI strikes enemy missiles just after they launch–would involve more research and development.
Another program facing bad news would be the Multiple Kill Vehicle, designed to take on enemy missiles spewing out multiple warheads or other items. This program would be terminated.
Gates overall would chop about $1.4 billion from the roughly $10 billion Missile Defense Agency budget, and restructure how MDA operates. He would focus more on systems to kill short- and medium-range enemy missiles, rather than ICBMs.
His plan would, however, support continued programs such as the sea-based Aegis weapon control system (Lockheed Martin [LMT]) and Standard Missile interceptors (Raytheon [RTN]), plus $200 million to upgrade six more Aegis ships to missile-defense capability. As well, the plan would support the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, system, also by Lockheed Martin.
Generally, Gates and Marine Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaking at a Pentagon news briefing, said the budget plan is needed to cope with new threats and types of war confronting the United States.
Before the Gates plan is finalized, President Obama must review and approve it. Gates conceded that the cuts he is proposing in existing programs will be opposed by many in Congress, noting that proposed cuts will mean tough futures for many companies and their employees.