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Prepared Statement of Robert Linhard, Major General USAF, Director of Plans, Headquarters, United States Air Force

18 June 1996 - House National Security Committee
Subcommittees on Military Research and Development and Military Procurement
National Missile Defense

INTRODUCTION

Good afternoon, Mr. Chairmen and members of the Committee. It is a privilege to appear before the members of this committee today as a representative of the United States Air Force in order to testify about a near-term, low-risk option to use the proven capabilities of the Minuteman missile to defend the United States against ballistic missile attack, should the nation decide to deploy such a capability. My opening remarks are brief, so that we can get to the questions I know you and the other members of the committee are eager to ask. With your permission, I would like to offer my remarks and a prepared statement for the record. The prepared statement I am submitting is based on a speech the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Ronald R. Fogleman, presented at an American Defense Preparedness Association/National Defense University breakfast in Washington DC on 16 May 96.

THE NEED FOR NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE

In a speech at the George Washington University in April, Secretary of Defense Perry highlighted the emerging threat of missile technology in the hands of rogue states -- states that could be hostile to the United States. As he indicated, a very real danger exists that these states could secure long-range missiles and couple them with nuclear, biological, or chemical warheads. Then, that hostile regime -- one that we may be unable to deter with the threat of nuclear retaliation -- could employ intercontinental ballistic missiles against our country.

Secretary Perry, stressed that we need to be ready to deploy an NMD system to defend our nation against this potential threat. While no rogue nation has ICBMs today. he indicated that it is conceivable that a country could develop its own missile delivery system or secure outside help in fielding an intercontinental strike capability. In this manner, the leaders of a rogue nation could deploy a weapon system that could reach America's shores from their country.

U.S. STRATEGY TO DEVELOP AND DEPLOY AN NMD SYSTEM

As a result, the United States is pursuing a "hedging strategy" that entails developing an NMD system that could be deployed when this kind of ICBM threat appears on the horizon.

The initial NMD system must be capable of defending North America and Hawaii against a small and relatively unsophisticated ICBM attack that a rogue state could mount in the foreseeable future. The defensive system will also be capable of intercepting a very limited unauthorized or accidentally launched missile from more nuclear capable states. It may include sensors in space to identify and track incoming missiles, ground-based radars, and ground-based interceptor missiles.

The Department of Defense (DOD) has shifted from a technology readiness to a deployment readiness program in order to position the U.S. to respond effectively to a strategic missile threat should it emerge. This program entails developing the elements of an initial NMD system over the next three years. Then, if a rogue threat emerges, the United States will construct and deploy the defensive system within three additional years, by about the year 2003.

If such a threat does not emerge, DoD will continue to advance missile defense technologies so that we will be ready to deploy an even more capable system when the threat warrants. This approach constitutes DoD's "three plus three program."

ORIGIN OF THE MINUTEMAN OPTION

The United States Air Force has developed what we think is a viable option for fielding an NMD system prior to 2003 if it becomes necessary because of an emerging threat.The Minuteman NMD option leverages existing components and infrastructure to provide the required defensive capability quickly, cost effectively, and with some schedule and technical risk. Fundamentally, it entails deploying 20 modified Minuteman missiles armed with defensive kinetic kill vehicles in existing silos at a single site in the central United States.

The Minuteman NMD concept originated in 1995 during deliberations of a Tiger Team which was established by BMDO to look at these issues. The Team sought to develop a national missile defense system that could be deployed at the earliest possible date to counter the developing missile threat posed by rogue nations.

One of the options the Tiger Team considered was deploying 20 Minuteman ICBMs equipped with kinetic kill vehicles in existing silos at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota. Those interceptors would be supported by a network of Early Warning Radars enhanced by software upgrades. The BMDO Tiger Team determined that such a single-site Minuteman NMD system could provide the capability to defend North America and Hawaii.

At BMDO's request, the Air Force provided technical support in evaluating the Minuteman NMD option. In doing so, we discovered that the Minuteman missile system and infrastructure could make a major contribution to the defense of the nation against ballistic missile attack at substantial cost savings to the American taxpayer over non- leveraged systems.

Charged with defending the nation against external threats in a time of limited resources, the Air Force decided it was appropriate to further develop the Minuteman option as a candidate for the initial NMD system, and offer it for consideration.

Minuteman NMD's superior characteristics derive from the fact that it leverages three operational systems that are now in the field: the Minuteman ICBM weapon system. deployed strategic sensors. and existing battle management systems.

THE MINUTEMAN

With nearly 34 years of operation, the Minuteman weapon system is one of the most reliable and effective systems in the U.S. inventory. The Minuteman missile has maintained alert rates that routinely exceed 96%, and it has demonstrated its reliability in hundreds of operational tests from Vandenberg AFB, California. In fact, typically there are three test launches each year involving operational assets taken from the field and launched down the Western Range. The latest launch occurred on the sixth of March, and it achieved excellent results. The Minuteman system has been modernized and upgraded over the years to extend its useful life as part of America's strategic nuclear deterrent force well into the next century.

Minuteman solid booster motors are now being refurbished to extend their service life and to maintain high reliability rates. Also, Minuteman III missile guidance sets are being upgraded with state of the art electronic components.

All these improvements are part of an established and funded program to maintain Minuteman as a reliable and robust booster system. They are not part of a new program undertaken for NMD. As a result, Minuteman boosters used for missile defense could provide the same level of proven performance as our ICBM force.

The Air Force' s ICBM System Program Office (SPO) assessed the engineering plans to convert the Minuteman to a defensive role. They have discovered no technical "show-stoppers." In fact, they found that converting the Minuteman to a defensive role would be a relatively straightforward endeavor. It would involve using all three stages of the missile, changing some computer software, plus integrating a kinetic kill vehicle and associated kick stage.

The Air Force ICBM SPO estimated that it would require, at most, four years to engineer, test, produce. and deploy the Minuteman interceptor. In the end. we assess that the availability of the kill vehicle will drive the program completion date.The Minuteman booster offers the added advantage of being compatible with a variety of kinetic kill vehicles. That's because it uses its own guidance system and does not have to rely on the kill vehicle for initial guidance.

The Minuteman NMD option of deploying 20 interceptors at a single site would capitalize on the existing Minuteman infrastructure to include our trained personnel, specialized equipment, and established support network.

The ongoing deactivation of the 321 st Missile Group at Grand Forks AFB will free up existing missile silos and launch control centers for possible use in an NMD launch system. And the Air Force ICBM SPO assesses that no significant changes in the ground support systems would be necessary in order to produce a defensive capability.

Additionally, we would be able to utilize fully the developed test, evaluation, and training infrastructure that currently supports Minuteman weapon system, capitalizing on the Air Force' s nearly 40 years of experience in operations with long-range, guided missiles.

As envisioned, the defensive system would also capitalize on existing and planned improvements to strategic sensors and battle management systems.

SENSORS AND BATTLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

The Defense Satellite Program (DSP) satellites will detect missile launches against the U.S. and cue upgraded early warning radars. These radars will generate track information for the battle management center at Cheyenne Mountain Complex in Colorado which will disseminate the track information to the interceptor site for launch and guidance. Ground-based X-band dish antenna radars will provide refined tracking data to help discriminate reentry vehicles from other objects.After detection and warning of a missile attack, a Minuteman interceptor would be launched from its silo and it would guide itself to the vicinity of the target. Then, the kill vehicle would separate and receive guidance updates from a ground-based radar. Finally, the kill vehicle would acquire the target, guide itself into the path of the oncoming warhead, and destroy it through impact at high velocity.

The U.S. will have to deploy X-band and ground-based radars to support whatever initial NMD system that the nation decides to field. Once operational, the Minuteman system will be able to take advantage of enhanced warning and cueing provided by advanced strategic sensors - for instance the Space and Missile Tracking System -- as they are deployed in the future.

Feasibility tests of Minuteman NMD are already underway. A major test is scheduled this month to demonstrate the concept of operations. In January of 1997, the Air Force plans to conduct a major end-to-end test.

The Air Force ICBM SPO estimates that it will take approximately 4 years to field the Minuteman NMD system at a cost of about $2.5 billion. However, this cost estimate has not yet been submitted to OSD for validation. The resulting NMD system will provide the nation a force of 20 interceptors capable of defending all 50 states. The Minuteman NMD system can accomplish this mission and be deployable in this time frame because it maximizes the use of existing infrastructure and relies upon modifications and upgrades to current systems. The Minuteman weapon system, the DSP satellites, early warning radars, battle management centers, and communications interfaces are existing, functioning systems today.

This approach to fielding an initial NMD system is directly in line with DoD directives for major defense acquisition programs. These directives require the military to first look at using or modifying existing weapon systems to provide the required capability before investing in brand new systems.The Minuteman NMD supports DoD's current "three plus three program." Should a rogue nation threat emerge in the near future, an initial force of 20 interceptors could be deployed at a single site within the designated time frame to provide an effective defense against this limited, relatively unsophisticated threat. In addition, Minuteman NMD would allow growth in the future. The Minuteman-based NMD system could expand to 100 interceptors at a total cost of between $3.5 to $4.5 billion. Another option would be to upgrade kill vehicles to deal with a more sophisticated threat should it develop before more advanced NMD options are available.

Finally, the Minuteman approach would not preclude any long-term option that the nation might chose to develop, nor would it drive the long-term NMD solution in any particular direction. And it would not entail building costly new infrastructures with long lead times -- an issue that cannot be ignored in building weapon systems today. Nor would the Minuteman option involve environmentally sensitive issues such as digging new missile silos. Moreover, it would not absorb enormous resources that would then be unavailable for investing in other future defensive technologies or other modernization programs.

In the end, the Minuteman option would provide a highly cost- effective, initial NMD capability to protect America against a rogue nation threat.

ARMS CONTROL

Compliance with the START and ABM Treaties is an important part of any approach to National Missile Defense. Although any Minuteman NMD system would have to undergo a thorough compliance review for both START and ABM Treaties, the Air Force believes it has developed a START and ABM Treaty compliant path for a Minuteman-based interceptor.

The Air Force realizes that if the Department of Defense selects the Minuteman option and the Congress funds it, then the U.S. will need to discuss Treaty implications of Minuteman NMD with the Russians. However, the possibility of fielding an effective NMD system to defend the nation that would save billions of dollars in program costs makes this option well worth pursuing. And DoD has already indicated a willingness to discuss with the Russians the Treaty implications of deploying an initial NMD system.

CONCLUSION

It's appropriate for the Air Force to pursue the Minuteman NMD option and make it an achievable program for the nation. Minuteman NMD offers a viable response to the emerging danger posed by rogue states that could gain the capability to attack the U.S. with long-range ballistic missiles.

The nation must field a defensive system capable of protecting America against such a threat when it eventually arises. Minuteman NMD can provide that capability. It takes maximum advantage of established, operational capabilities to create a near-term, cost-effective, low- risk, flexible, and we believe, stability-enhancing NMD system. It capitalizes on existing technology, proven reliability, and nearly 40 years of operational experience to provide an affordable and effective national missile defense capability. In an era of declining resources and competing social requirements, it is essential that we secure the best value for every dollar expended on America's defense. If the nation decides to field a treaty- compliant NMD system in the near future to defend against a rudimentary rogue nation threat, then the Minuteman option provides an excellent "value" for the nation.