Pentagon Delays National Missile Defense Deployment Decision by One Year

Strategic Insights -

The Pentagon has decided to delay its deployment readiness review for the National Missile Defense (NMD) system by one year, from 2000 to 2001. This decision was made at a meeting between the Joint Chiefs of Staff and top defense officials, including Defense Secretary William Cohen. The delay is attributed to the need to properly resource the program and establish a more realistic acquisition timeframe. The revised strategy, known as the "three plus three" approach, would push the initial operational capability of NMD from 2005 to an unspecified date.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Pentagon has delayed the deployment readiness review for the National Missile Defense (NMD) system by one year, from 2000 to 2001.
  • The decision was made at a meeting between the Joint Chiefs of Staff and top defense officials, including Defense Secretary William Cohen.
  • The revised "three plus three" strategy would delay the initial operational capability of NMD until 2005.
  • The Pentagon faces a challenge in coming up with $7.5 billion over the Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP) from FY '00 to FY '05.
  • The BMDO is underfunded, with a total obligation authority (TOA) of only about $3 billion per year.
  • The Pentagon may need to cut or cancel other programs, such as the Army's Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) program, to fund NMD.
  • Congress has suggested using some of the $1 billion received in FY '99 supplemental funding for NMD.
  • The Pentagon has considered canceling THAAD, but this would only save $4 billion, not enough to fund NMD.

Statistics:

  • $7.5 billion: The amount of funding required over the Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP) from FY '00 to FY '05 for the National Missile Defense system.
  • $3 billion: The total obligation authority (TOA) of the Ballistic Missile Defense Office (BMDO) per year.
  • $1 billion: The amount of supplemental funding received by the BMDO in FY '99.
  • $4 billion: The amount of savings if the Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) program were canceled.
  • 2000: The original year set for the deployment readiness review.
  • 2001: The revised year set for the deployment readiness review.

Sources:

  • Defense Daily (November 5)
  • A Nov. 4 Ballistic Missile Defense Office (BMDO) briefing slide for the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) by Air Force Lt. Gen. Lester Lyles, BMDO's director