Global Security Newswire

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency said yesterday it would complete a thorough review of its missile defense testing system by May to address concerns that it spent enormous sums to develop technologies that were not properly vetted (see GSN, Nov. 3, 2008).

The government should prepare a blueprint for missile defense testing that extends far beyond its customary two-year schedule, MDA chief Lt. Gen. Patrick O'Reilly told Reuters.

"We're working with the operational test communities -- not just MDA, but the independent reviewers -- to put together a comprehensive testing program that does convince everyone of (the) capabilities and limitations of these missile defense systems," he said..

O'Reilly said that that evaluators so far have uncovered problems with testing and with modeling and simulation systems.

He refused to discuss reports the Obama administration could pursue $2 billion in cuts to the next missile defense budget, saying only that the targets of the reductions would determine their ultimate effect (see related GSN story, today). U.S. missile defense efforts received $9.4 billion in fiscal 2009 (Andrea Shalal-Esa, Reuters, Feb. 25).

Congressional auditors yesterday also took aim at U.S. missile defense testing activities.

"Overall, during fiscal year 2008, testing has been less productive than planned," the Government Accountability Office said in a report.

"While MDA completed several key tests that demonstrated enhanced performance of [the Ballistic Missile Defense System], all elements of the system had test delays and shortfalls, in part due to problems with the availability and performance of target missiles," the report says. (see GSN, Sept. 30, 2008).

The testing problems have held up efforts to refine simulations and models that depend on data produced by physical exercises. "As a result, the performance of the fielded BMDS as a whole cannot yet be determined," the report states.

Certain missile defense components have also been produced and supplied before they are properly tested, government investigators said.

In addition, the test issues have forced the Missile Defense Agency to depend "on a reduced basis -- fewer test, model, and simulation results -- to declare capabilities as operational in the field," according to the report (U.S. Government Accountability Office report, Feb. 25).