U.S. Officials Outline Missile Defense Goals

Officials Outline Missile Defense Goals
Tuesday, March 23, 2010

By Otto Kreisher

WASHINGTON -- Top U.S. defense officials on Monday reaffirmed the Obama administration's commitment to an "effective ballistic missile defense" capability and rejected any idea of abolishing the Missile Defense Agency and transferring its functions to the different armed services (see GSN, March 4).

(Mar. 23) - Vice Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartwright, shown in 2009, yesterday endorsed a missile defense strategy adopted last year by the Obama administration (U.S. Defense Department photo).

The officials also emphasized the need to extend the "phased adaptive approach" of regional missile defense now focused on Europe to the western Pacific and the Middle East. To do that, the nation's second highest military officer said, the United States must open its missile defense program to systems developed by its allies, for both cost and deterrence reasons.

The officials spoke at the opening session of the annual missile defense symposium co-sponsored by MDA and aerospace industry groups at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington.


Officials outline missile defense goals -- Government Executive
Pentagon Looks to ’Phase In’ Missile Defense -- US Department of Defense
U.S. wary of ballistic missile threat -- UPI
Lockheed sees opportunities in missile defense -- Reuters
U.S. raps quality on missile defense programs -- Reuters
Company Funds Withheld Due to Poor Work on Missile Interceptors -- Business Week/Bloomberg
Missile Defense Vital for the U.S. and its Allies -- DoD Live
Missile Defense Is What Really Matters -- Heritage Foundation