Theater Missile Defense: Issues for Congress

Publication Date: July 2001

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Military and defense

Type:

Abstract:

U.S. troops deployed abroad and U.S. allies are potentially threatened by biological, chemical, and even nuclear weapons that could be delivered by ballistic or cruise missiles. Missile production by North Korea, Iraq and Iran has caused concern and has generated considerable support in Congress to develop and deploy missile defense systems.

For fiscal year 2002, the President requested about $3.24 billion for programs to defend against theater missiles (called Theater Missile Defense or TMD). Six U.S. theater missile defense weapon systems being developed are: Patriot PAC-3, Navy Area Defense (NAD), Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), Navy Theater Wide (NTW), and Airborne Laser (ABL). The request included larger amounts than Congress appropriated last year for all the programs, especially PAC-3, THAAD, and ABL. Compared to the FY2002 Clinton request, the Bush request for NTW shows a 166% increase.

The defense authorization act increased amounts in FY2001 for PAC-3, NTW and ABL, approved requested amounts for THAAD and NAD, and cut the amount for MEADS. For FY2000, Congress increased amounts for PAC-3, NTW, and a number of smaller programs. It also required that NTW and THAAD be funded and managed as separate programs, contrary to the BMDO plan to have them compete for funds from a single line.

THAAD successfully intercepted Hera target missiles on June 10 and August 2, 1999, after having failed six attempted interception test flights. The last failure occurred in March 29, 1999. Patriot PAC-3 has successfully intercepted numerous target missile (with one recent failure) and the first unit is to be equipped with PAC-3s in September 2001.

Congress has supported NTW, the other upper tier system, and some Members have encouraged a rapid development of NTW because it might provide some strategic missile defense capability.

Congress has also criticized the pace of development and schedules of deployment, redundancy of the various systems, restrictions that the ABM Treaty may apply, and systems management of missile defense. Of the several TMD programs, THAAD and Navy Theater Wide systems have received the most congressional attention.