Ballistic Missile Defense: Select Issues and Policies

180 Pages·2013·1.958 MB·English

by  Ayoub Vermeirsch

DEFENSE, SECURITY AND STRATEGIES

B M D
ALLISTIC ISSILE EFENSE

S I P
ELECT SSUES AND OLICIES

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DEFENSE, SECURITY AND STRATEGIES

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DEFENSE, SECURITY AND STRATEGIES

B M D
ALLISTIC ISSILE EFENSE

S I P
ELECT SSUES AND OLICIES

AYOUB VERMEIRSCH
EDITOR

New York
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CONTENTS

Preface vii
Chapter 1 Ballistic Missile Defense in the Asia-Pacific Region:
Cooperation and Opposition 1
Ian E. Rinehart, Steven A. Hildreth
and Susan V. Lawrence
Chapter 2 Ballistic Missile Defense Review Report 33
Department of Defense
Chapter 3 Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program:
Background and Issues for Congress 93
Ronald O'Rourke
Index 161

PREFACE

The ballistic missile threat is increasing both quantitatively and
qualitatively, and is likely to continue to do so over the next decade. Current
global trends indicate that ballistic missile systems are becoming more
flexible, mobile, survivable, reliable, and accurate, while also increasing in
range. A number of states are also working to increase the protection of their
ballistic missiles from pre-launch attack and to increase their effectiveness in
penetrating missile defenses. Several states are also developing nuclear,
chemical, and/or biological warheads for their missiles. Such capabilities
could be significant sources of military advantage during a conflict. But they
may be equally significant in times of relative peace, when they undergird
efforts to coerce states near and far. Regional actors such as North Korea and
Iran continue to develop long-range missiles that will be threatening to the
United States. There is some uncertainty about when and how this type of
intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) threat to the U.S. homeland will
mature, but there is no uncertainty about the existence of regional threats.
They are clear and present. The threat from short- range, medium-range, and
intermediate-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs, MRBMs, and IRBMs) in
regions where the United States deploys forces and maintains security
relationships is growing at a particularly rapid pace. This book provides an
overview of select issues and policies of the ballistic missile defense program.
Chapter 1 – The growing number and modernization of ballistic missiles
in the Asia-Pacific region poses a security challenge for the United States and
its allies and is thus a concern for many in Congress. The United States has
made ballistic missile defense (BMD) a central component of protection for
forward-deployed U.S. forces and extended deterrence for allied security. The
configuration of sensors, command-and-control centers, and BMD assets in
viii Ayoub Vermeirsch
the region has slowly evolved with contributions from treaty allies, primarily
Japan, Australia, and South Korea.
Observers believe that North Korea has an arsenal of hundreds of short-
range ballistic missiles and likely dozens of medium-range Nodong missiles;
the extended-range Nodongs are considered capable of reaching Japan and
U.S. bases there. Longer-range North Korean missiles appear to remain
unreliable, with only one successful test out of five in the past 15 years. The
U.S. intelligence community has not reached consensus that North Korea can
build nuclear warheads small enough to put on ballistic missiles, and there is
debate among experts on this question.
Congress has maintained a strong interest in the ballistic missile threat
from both North Korea and Iran and in BMD systems to counter those threats.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY2013 (P.L. 112-239)
notes that East Asian allies have contributed to BMD in various ways, and it
calls on the Department of Defense to continue efforts to develop and
formalize regional BMD arrangements.
The United States and its allies in the Asia-Pacific region have responded
to the North Korean missile threat by deploying BMD assets and increasing
international BMD cooperation. The United States and Japan have deployed
Aegis-equipped destroyers with Standard Missile 3 (SM3) interceptors, Patriot
Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) batteries, early warning sensors, and
advanced radars to meet the threat. South Korea and Australia have relatively
basic BMD capabilities with plans to improve those in the near future.
Cooperation on BMD follows the huband-spokes model of U.S. bilateral
alliance relationships in the region; the multilateralism that underpins the
European BMD arrangement is largely absent. Working-level coordination is
especially close among the United States, Japan, and Australia, but senior U.S.
defense officials have called for greater integration of U.S. and allied BMD
efforts in East Asia to improve effectiveness.
Chapter 2 – The Department of Defense conducted the first-ever Ballistic
Missile Defense (BMD) Review from March 2009 through January 2010.
Mandated by Congress, and guided by a Presidential directive, the review
comprehensively considered U.S. BMD policies, strategies, plans, and
programs. The review was co-led by the Under Secretary of Defense for
Policy, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and
Logistics, and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It also involved
participants from the Department of State, the Department of Homeland
Security, the Intelligence Community, the National Security Staff, and the
Office of Management and Budget.