U S Ballistic Missile Capabilities In Europe

In early 2007, after several years of internal discussions and consultations with Poland and the Czech Republic, the Bush Administration formally proposed to defend against an Iranian missile threat by deploying a ground-based mid-course defense (GMD) element in Europe as part of the global U.S. BMDS (Ballistic Missile Defense System). The system would have included 10 interceptors in Poland, a radar in the Czech Republic, and another radar that would have been deployed in a country closer to Iran, to be completed by 2013 at a reported cost of at least $4 billion. The proposed European BMD capability raised a number of foreign policy challenges in Europe and with Russia. The United States negotiated and signed agreements with Poland and the Czech Republic, but for a number of reasons those agreements were not ratified by the end of the Bush Administration. This book examines the long-range ballistic missile defense in Europe. It also discusses the implementation challenges for future capabilities in Europe; and actions needed to address these implementation issues.

This report discusses how successive U.S. governments have urged the creation of an anti-missile system to protect against long-range ballistic missile threats from adversary states. The proposed U.S. system has encountered resistance in some European countries and beyond.

Examines the cost and potential defensive capability of the proposed European ground-based midcourse defense system. Also explores alternatives.

"Since 2002, DOD has spent over $98billion developing a ballistic missiledefense system to protect the UnitedStates, U.S. forces, and allies againstinbound threat missiles. In December2011, DOD deployed the initial phaseof a revised approach for Europe, withincreased capabilities to be deployedin later phases. GAO has reported onpotential risks to DOD'simplementation caused by the lack of acoordinated management approachand an absence of life-cycle costestimates. Given DOD's BMDinvestment and revised approach,GAO was asked to review EPAA'simplementation. GAO evaluated theextent to which DOD (1) identified andplanned to resolve implementationissues before deploying BMDcapabilities to Europe; and (2)estimated the long-term costs tooperate and support BMD elements inEurope. GAO reviewed DODinstructions, manuals, and otherdocuments on the acceptance processand the status of operating and supportcost estimates that have beendeveloped to-date, and interviewedcognizant officials."

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