Georgia Ready to Hosts Elements of European Missile Defense

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has announced that his country would welcome deployment of X-band radar, an element of regional missile defense system designed to protect Central Asia and the Middle East from Iran, in its territory.

Defense Officials Urge Congress to Fund MEADS Development

Officers from both the Army and Navy are the latest to voice their disapproval of Congress’ attempts to halt funding for development of a new international defense system.

Amid Tensions, U.S. and Turkey Move Forward on Missile Defense

The United States and Turkey signed an agreement to station U.S. missile defense radar in Turkey, just as Ankara’s relations with the West seem to be deteriorating.

Senate Panel OKs Defense Spending Freeze

The Senate Appropriations Committee voted unanimously Thursday for a defense spending bill that provides $513 billion for the Pentagon’s base budget, freezing spending at 2011 levels.

Poland May Join Mobile Anti-Missile System, Finmeccanica Says

Poland may join a multinational mobile anti-missile program that the U.S. plans to withdraw from, said Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, chairman of Finmeccanica SpA (FNC), one of the companies involved in the system’s development.

US Senators: China Blocking Probe of Counterfeit Products

Two high-ranking U.S. senators are accusing China of hindering a probe of counterfeit electronic parts detected in the multi-billion-dollar U.S. Defense Department supply chain.

Boeing Gets $41M Missile Contract

Congressman Mo Brooks (R, AL-5)

U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks R-Huntsville said this evening that the Missile Defense Agency has awarded a contract to the Boeing Co. for $41,161,620. The contract is for the development of the Standard Missile-3 Block IIB, and will initially bring more than 40 jobs to the region, along with an expansion in workforce later in the project’s development, Brooks said.

U.S. Can Intercept North Korean Ballistic Missiles, General Says

LTG Patrick O'Reilly, Director, Missile Defense Agency

 

The head of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency on Thursday said the United States is prepared to counter potential ballistic missile strikes from North Korea, the Yonhap News Agency reported.

At a Capitol Hill Hearing, Lt. Gen. Patrick O’Reilly responded to a question on the abilities of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, which is intended to protect the country from a long-range ballistic missile attack. The last two intercept tests of the system have been failures.

Video: House Armed Services Committee, Strategic Forces Subcommittee Hearing on Missile Defense Budget

The entire hearing, including the opening statements from Chairman Michael Turner (R, OH-3) [:07], Ranking Member Loretta Sanchez (D, CA-47) [5:07] and the witnesses:

Bradley Roberts, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Missile Defense Policy [8:27]

Lieutenant General Patrick O’Reilly, Director of the Missile Defense Agency [15:25]

David Ahern, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Portfolio Systems Acquisition [24:47]

Michael Gilmore, Director of Operational Test and Evaluation [31:47]

The question and answer section of the hearing begins at [37:18]

MDAA Alert: Transparency and Accountability

Dear Members and Friends,

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is the government agency that investigates, audits and evaluates programs for the United States Congress. Its mission is to support Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities, provide accountability and help improve the performance of the federal government for the American people. The GAO has recently released its report on missile defense for the past fiscal year.