Partial Missile Shield Called About Ready
The United States is on track to activate a limited ballistic missile defense system by the end of the year, the program’s director said Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. Ronald Kadish, director of the Missile Defense Agency, told a Senate Appropriations subcommittee that he expected to meet President Bush’s goal of having 20 interceptors in place by the end of 2005, including a few that would be operational this year.
“It’s still a major challenge for us over the next six months to do this, but right now what I see is we will have up to eight by this calendar year and 12 the following year available for alert capabilities,” Kadish said.
He said the system would provide a “capability to defeat near-term threats of greatest concern.”
The first interceptors would be placed in Ft. Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., reflecting the perceived threat of North Korean intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Kadish said the system would not guarantee a total defense.
“If 100% sure is the standard, we’re not going to meet it,” he said.
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