Ballistic Missile Defense Deployment Options

Abstract : When Congress debates the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), it will review a number of alternative concepts for ballistic missile defenses (BMD). These will include defenses against short-range ballistic missiles, defenses against limited strikes on the United States or other targets around the world, and defenses against a larger strike launched against the United States by the Soviet Union. Although a single BMD system might be able to counter all the potential threats aimed at the United States, its allies, and its forces overseas, different BMD systems could be designed to counter different threats. Because the different threats may not be equally likely to materialize over the next 10-15 years, it may be possible to design a BMD system to counter only those threats that appear to create significant risks for U.S. national security. This report outlines three alternative paths for BMD deployments. These three paths generate different benefits, in terms of the threats they might counter, and different costs, including both dollar costs and arms control costs. The paths would also employ different technologies. Nonetheless, the paths can be viewed as steps along a single path of increasing BMD protection. Path I emphasizes the deployment of defenses against short- and medium- range tactical and theater ballistic missiles (ATBMs). Because the United States has already deployed the Patriot system, it would be on this path even if it did not develop or deploy new types of BMD technologies.