Stay Informed

Missile Defense

EmailPrint


Interceptor test in the Marshall Islands (2005). MDA photo.Testing a missile interceptor.

RECENT ANALYSIS

  • Jun 24, 2009
    House Armed Services Committee Action on the FY 2010 Defense Authorization Bill (H.R. 2647)
    The House Armed Services Committee completed its markup of the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Authorization bill (HR 2647) on June 17, 2009. The marked-up bill recommends an overall FY 2010 authorization level of $680.5 billion, which includes $130 billion for ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and $550.5 billion for the Pentagon and nuclear weapons activities.
  • May 8, 2009
    Analysis of the Fiscal Year 2010 Pentagon Spending Request
    On May 8, the Obama Administration released complete details of its Fiscal Year 2010 Pentagon Spending Request. The request included $533.8 billion for the Department of Defense and $130 billion to support "Overseas Contingency Operations" (military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan), included for the first time as part of the White House’s annual budget request, rather than through special supplemental appropriations bills.
  • May 6, 2009
    Analysis: Final Report of the Congressional Commission on the Nuclear Strategic Posture of the United States
    On May 6, the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States released its final report. As one might expect given the diverse make-up of the Commission, the final report offers a mixture of good and bad recommendations. In this comprehensive analysis, Kingston Reif examines the two competing visions in the Commission’s report.
  • See more articles »

Dr. Lieutenant General Robert G. Gard, Jr. (USA, ret.)

CENTER EXPERT

Lieutenant General Robert G. Gard, Jr. (USA, ret.)

Chairman
202-546-0795 ext.2111
rgard AT armscontrolcenter DOT org

Click here to read "Strengthening U.S. Security Through Non-Proliferation and Arms Control: Recommendations for the Obama Administration"

The American missile defense program is a comprehensive, multi-layered system of systems designed to counter attacks by ballistic missiles. The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) within the Department of Defense has primary responsibility for ballistic missile defense programs. Annual funding has increased from $3 billion during the Clinton administration to over $10 billion today.

It was not until 1983, with President Ronald Reagan's "Star Wars" speech, that expanded research and development on missile defense programs notably accelerated. The Star Wars program, officially known as the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), aimed to establish combined ground- and space-based missile defense systems to protect against strategic nuclear ballistic missiles by forming a "protective bubble." This complex endeavor sparked skepticism about technological feasibility, affordability, and possible abrogation of the ABM Treaty. Star Wars was never fully developed or deployed.

FY2010 DEFENSE BUDGET

Jun 24, 2009 House Armed Services Committee Action on the FY 2010 Defense Authorization Bill (H.R. 2647)

May 8, 2009 Analysis of the Fiscal Year 2010 Pentagon Spending Request: May "Full Request"

Apr 7, 2009 Gates Throws Down the Gauntlet on Defense Budget

Feb 26, 2009 Fiscal Year 2010 Pentagon Defense Spending Request: February "Topline"

ARTICLES & FACT SHEETS

Feb 26, 2009 Recommendations for 2009: Reduce Funding for Unproven Missile Defense Programs

Oct 20, 2008 Time To Rethink Missile Defense

Mar 26, 2008 Star Wars Turns 25 Years Old, but Effective and Capable Missile Defense Still Elusive

Jul 16, 2007 National Missile Defense in Europe: Premature and Unwise

ADDITIONAL READING