Missile Defense Testing: Year of the Bluster
Media Advisory from the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation For Immediate Release - January 10, 2002
Contact: Matt Martin - 202.546.0795 ext.107 Stacie Robinson - 202.546.0795 ext. 105
In decision that contradicted previous pledges, the Missile Defense Agency has announced that it is canceling its next two planned tests of the ground-based, mid-course defense program in Alaska, formerly known as National Missile Defense.
This is a surprising move, given that the latest test, conducted only a month ago, failed when the booster rocket of the test interceptor missile did not separate from the interceptor, causing the interceptor to miss its intended target. This failure was the third of eight tests, not exactly a stellar record.
Moreover, the cancellation announcement comes on the heels of President Bush’s December decision to deploy this system in less than two years.
Air Force Lt. Col. Rick Lehner, spokesman for the Missile Defense Agency told the Associated Press that the agency had scheduled the two tests for this winter and spring, as part of a larger set of around twenty tests designed to help develop missile defenses. The Pentagon had planned a lengthy “operational testing” phase - a more rigorous set of tests - to follow after these developmental tests.
Matt Martin, Assistant Director of the Center’s missile defense project, questioned the logic of the decision. “We cannot have confidence in a system to be deployed in 2004, for which this country will spend many billions of dollars, when the Pentagon shortchanges its own testing plans.”
Tom Cardamone, the Center’s Executive Director explained: “Missile defense should not be deployed if we don’t test often and realistically. The completed tests have been the easiest ones; the mediocre success rate so far indicates we need more testing, not less.”
Yesterday’s announcement is a continuation of a long history of shoddy missile defense testing, evaluation and production practices. While the Pentagon has promises more testing and greater attention to oversight and strict management, the reality is a combination of failures, delays, dumbed-down testing, and lowered requirements.
Some members of Congress have attempted to hold the Pentagon accountable for its testing practices. But speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee last March, General Ronald Kadish, director of the Pentagon’s missile defense program reassured the senators, stating, “.[F]rankly, it would surprise me if we had those kinds of criticisms again as a result of any review of our test program. We’re trying very hard to make sure that we can test realistically, that we can test frequently, and we can test to our own satisfaction that these systems will work as intended.” This latest announcement contradicts General Kadish’s pledge.
The next test is now scheduled for this fall, leaving less than a year for all of the remaining tests. But there is still no booster rocket, no new satellite system, no high-tech radars, and almost nothing else except empty promises that we will be safer as a result of less testing and more pronouncements.
Said Cardamone, “General Kadish has declared 2003 ‘the year of the booster.’ Instead it seems to be the year of the bluster.”