German Lawmakers Back Missile Defense Program

German lawmakers reinforced the nation’s commitment to a multilateral missile defense effort yesterday, voting to support Germany’s participation in the Medium Extended Air Defense System, Reuters reported (see GSN, Oct. 21, 2004).

Members of the parliament’s budget committee approved the German role in the three-way project with the United States and Italy to develop advanced missile interceptors. Some question was raised about Germany’s role last month when one party in the government coalition expressed concern over the project’s cost and its necessity, according to Reuters.

Ultimately, however, the program drew cross-party support, said one opposition spokesman, Dietrich Austermann of the Christian Democrats.

MEADS is expected to replace the Patriot missile interceptor system in the United States and Germany and the Nike Hercules system in Italy.

Current plans call for the United States to bear 58 percent of the cost, Germany to pay 25 percent and Italy to pay 17 percent. The development portion of the program is expected to cost $3.4 billion until 2012, according to Reuters (Reuters, April 20).

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