[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 157 (Monday, September 29, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10052-S10053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     SPACED-BASED INTERCEPTOR STUDY

  Mr. KYL. Madam President, today I wish to describe an important step 
towards providing the American people with a global, persistent 
ballistic missile defense system. This step is the space-based 
interceptor, SBI, study that was recently funded in H.R. 2638, the 
fiscal year 2009 Continuing Resolution, which contains the fiscal year 
2009 appropriations for the Department of Defense.
  Congress appropriated $5 million for the Secretary of Defense to 
conduct an independent assessment of a space-based interceptor element 
of our missile defense system. This is the first time since the Clinton 
administration and a Democrat-controlled Congress in 1993 cancelled all 
work towards a space-based layer missile defense system that we have 
the potential to expand our space-based capabilities from mere space 
situational awareness to space protection.
  In the past 15 years, the ballistic missile threat has substantially 
increased and is now undeniable. Today, at least 27 nations have 
ballistic missile defense capabilities, and last year alone over 120 
foreign ballistic missiles were launched. North Korea and Iran are 
developing and proliferating ballistic missile technology and continue 
to be major threats to our allies and our deployed forces.
  Developments in China, as illustrated in the 2008 Annual Report on 
Military Power of the People's Republic of China, raise the concern 
about accidental or unauthorized launches of

[[Page S10053]]

intercontinental ballistic missiles, ICBMs, by China's military.
  In addition to the long-established threat of ballistic missiles as a 
delivery system for weapons of mass destruction, on January 11, 2007, 
the world witnessed the vulnerability of space assets when China 
launched a ballistic missile to destroy a satellite. This capability 
extends beyond China; the Director of National Intelligence recently 
testified, ``over the last decade, the rest of the world has made 
significant progress in developing counter space capabilities.''
  Every part of our daily lives depends upon the capability and 
reliability of our space systems. An attack on our space systems would 
not only adversely affect our military and intelligence systems, but 
also items such as: the Internet backbone, financial systems, 
navigation systems, manufacturing inventory control systems, emergency 
response systems, and weather tracking. Our vulnerabilities have not 
gone unnoticed; Wang Hucheng, an analyst for the People's Liberation 
Army has called our space systems the ``soft ribs'' of the U.S. 
military.
  The $5 million appropriation for the SBI study allows the Secretary 
of Defense to enter into a contract with one or more independent 
entities to review the feasibility and advisability of developing a 
space-based interceptor element to the ballistic missile defense 
system. It is clear from the project tables in H.R. 2638, specifically 
the Program Element numbers in those tables, that Congress understood 
the importance of funding this study.
  I have the utmost confidence in Secretary Gates to make the decision 
about what research and development entity should perform this study. I 
would like to recommend that an entity like the Institute for Defense 
Analysis, IDA, lead the study. IDA has the experience and technical 
expertise to provide policymakers a complete picture of the merits of a 
space-based interceptor system.
  The study could lead to the development of new technologies and 
concepts that would provide the United States, our allies, and our 
deployed forces protection from the threat of rapidly proliferating 
ballistic missile technology, as well as the rising threat of attacks 
on our vulnerable national security space systems.
  I would like to share the views of a few senior military leaders 
about what they believe to be the benefits of conducting the space-
based interceptor study.
  GEN Kevin Chilton, Commander of United States Strategic Command, 
stated:

       Space based systems have great potential to address many 
     significant global missile defense challenges. The high 
     ground space provides could alleviate many geographic and 
     political challenges.

  GEN Henry Obering, Director of Missile Defense Agency, stated, the 
study is ``a pragmatic hedge against an uncertain future, not an 
acquisition program for space-based missile defenses. It is opportunity 
to learn--while there is time to learn--what is possible in space 
against the day when emerging threats may compel us to decide.''
  MG Thomas Deppe, Vice Commander of Air Force Space Command stated:

       Starting the preliminary studies and analysis on a space-
     based layer now will provide time to understand the potential 
     benefits and technological challenges of such a system. Early 
     studies help to reduce risk and better determine cost and 
     feasibility of any space-based endeavor by identifying 
     required technologies.

  The United States must study space-based defenses now while we 
actually have the time to gather the data necessary to make informed 
policy decisions and before we are forced to make a decision in a time 
of crisis.
  I would like to thank Senators Inhofe, Allard, and Sessions for their 
support in ensuring this important initiative was funded.
  This study--some in this body have been afraid of--will help Congress 
understand what a space-based layer in our missile defense system could 
do to defend this Nation from ballistic missile attacks and threats to 
our space systems.
  Mr. ALLARD. Madam President, I would like to associate myself with 
the remarks of Senators Kyl and Inhofe. I supported the Space Test Bed 
study requested by the President. I would have preferred to be here 
today urging that my fellow Senators keep an open mind until that study 
can begin providing data to policy makers.
  Yet there are those who refuse to study--even study--whether space-
based interceptors can offer added defensive capability against 
ballistic missile threats to the United States, our allies, our 
deployed forces, even our national security space systems. As a result, 
this space interceptor study is the best we could get out of the 
Congress this year.
  Let there be no mistake, this is an important step forward. I am 
pleased to have been able to help to push this study across the finish 
line.
  I urge the Secretary of Defense to move quickly to get this study 
underway so that the next administration and the next Congress can 
build on today's study and finally move past the ivory tower debate 
about the weaponization of space.
  Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I strongly agree with Senator Kyl in 
regard to the space-based interceptor study. This study provides the 
Secretary of Defense an independent assessment of a space-based 
interceptor element of our missile defense system. I think we all agree 
that a layered missile defense capability provides us with the best 
defense against ballistic missile delivered weapons of mass destruction 
as well as a defense against attacks against our satellites which have 
become so necessary to what we do militarily and economically.
  This study will be an independent investigation into the technical 
feasibility and cost effectiveness of incorporating a space-based layer 
to our ballistic missile defense system. The study is neither a 
procurement program nor an attempt to weaponize space. It could lead to 
the development of new technologies and concepts that would provide the 
United States, our allies and our deployed forces protection from the 
threat of rapidly proliferating ballistic missile technology, as well 
as the rising threat of attacks on our vulnerable national security 
space systems.
  As Senator Kyl stated, last year 120 foreign ballistic missiles were 
launched. North Korea, Iran, and China remain likely suspects in 
ballistic missile proliferation and China has proven its ability to 
attack satellites. Recent Russian aggression in Georgia and reports on 
the state of China's military raise concerns about accidental or 
unauthorized launches of ICBMs.
  The threat exists. It is important to do these studies now in order 
to develop the technologies and the defenses we need. Waiting until our 
Nation or our allies are attacked is too late. Wishing away the threat, 
as some in this Congress would have us do, is not a solution.
  I thank my colleagues for this important move to ensure the safety of 
our Nation. Having the knowledge gleaned from this study will allow us 
to decide on the next step, should it be necessary.

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