Missile Defense Briefing Report: No. 313

MORE FUNDS FOR ISRAELI MISSILE DEFENSE
The Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is requesting an additional $220 million to fund Israeli's successful Iron Dome program in FY 2014, and $175.9 million more for FY 2015. Both sums come on top of the $486 million that the White House and Congress have already approved for the procurement of additional Iron Dome systems in formal budget submissions. Each Iron Dome battery, produced by the Israeli firm Rafael, costs approximately $90,000.

In addition, the MDA has also asked for $95.7 million to fund three other Israeli missile defense systems. The Arrow and Arrow 3 systems are intended to intercept medium- and long-range missiles, while David’s Sling will be able to counter short-range rockets. (Bloomberg Businessweek, April, 16, 2013)

MOVEMENT TOWARD A MISSILE DEFENSE ARCHITECTURE IN ASIA
General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is willing to explore the possibility of establishing a “collaborative, trilateral ballistic missile defense architecture” that would consist of U.S., Japanese, and South Korean missile defense assets. Speaking to reporters in late April, Dempsey acknowledged that historical antagonisms between Tokyo and Seoul might make cooperation difficult, but insisted that both countries should be able to overcome their differences to confront the growing strategic threat posed by North Korea. The Joint Chiefs chairman was optimistic that a combined issile defense system, consisting of ground-based, aerial, and naval assets, would “be better than the sum of its individual parts.” (Department of Defense, April 27, 2013)

CASE FOR EAST COAST DEFENSE GATHERS STEAM
The congressional debate over the need to protect the U.S. homeland from long range missile threats has shifted in recent weeks. As a result of belligerent rhetoric out of North Korea, Democratic congressmen are warming to the idea of the once controversial East Coast defense site. Tellingly, Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) did not use the word “proposed” when discussing an East Coast missile shield during a House Armed Services subcommittee hearing this spring. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), a leading Democrat, has also thrown his support behind the missile defense proposal of late. Republicans in Congress have said that they plan to authorize the Pentagon to spend $250 million on the construction of a missile defense system to protect the East Coast. (Defense News, May 8, 2013)

CHINA TESTS POTENTIAL ASAT WEAPON
China claims that the purpose of its recent rocket launch (carried out in mid-May) was to study the Earth’s magnetosphere, but Pentagon officials think otherwise. On May 13th, Beijing conducted the world’s highest sub-orbital rocket launch (6,250 mi. high) since 1976, using a ground-based missile that can double as a weapon capable of destroying a satellite in orbit. Rep. Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, could not provide specifics about the rocket but said that it was clear China is “looking to have a more aggressive posture in space.” (Reuters, May 15, 2013)

RUSSIA CONDEMNS AMERICAN MISSILE DEFENSES... WHILE STRENGTHENING ITS OWN
Even as it continues to criticize the U.S.-funded construction of missile defenses in Europe, Russia's government is modernizing and enhancing its own anti-missile capabilities, both conventional and nuclear. The Kremlin's public justification for the upgrades is an emerging threat from offensive missiles writ large, but experts speculate that the developments are intended specifically to keep Russia ahead of Chinese ballistic missile capabilities. Russia already boasts both the S-300 and S-400 systems, which are in use throughout the country, and is now developing more advanced capabilities which can intercept everything ranging from cruise missiles to intercontinental ballistic missiles. (Washington Free Beacon, May 16, 2013)