[DEBATE] : Space Defense Program Gets Extra Funding

[Riaz K. Tayob]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/11/AR2007111101173_pf.html 


*Space Defense Program Gets Extra Funding*

By Walter Pincus Monday, November 12, 2007; A19

While wrestling with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Pentagon is 
preparing weapons to fight the next battle from space, according to 
information in the 621-page, House-Senate conference report on the 
fiscal 2008 defense appropriations bill.

The $459 billion bill, which awaits President Bush's signature, provides 
$100 million for a new "prompt global strike" program that could deliver 
a conventional, precision-guided warhead anywhere in the world within 
two hours. It takes funds away from development of a conventional 
warhead for the Navy's submarine-launched Trident Intercontinental 
Ballistic Missile and from an Air Force plan for the Common Aero Vehicle.

The new program, dubbed Falcon, for "Force Application and Launch from 
CONUS," centers on a small-launch-vehicle concept of the Defense 
Advanced Research Projects Agency. The agency describes Falcon as a "a 
reusable Hypersonic Cruise Vehicle (HCV) capable of delivering
12,000 pounds of payload at a distance of 9,000 nautical miles from [the 
continental United States] in less than two hours."

Hypersonic speed is far greater than the speed of sound. The reusable 
vehicle being contemplated would "provide the country with significant 
capability to conduct responsive missions with quick turn-around sortie 
rates while providing aircraft-like operability and mission-recall 
capability," according to DARPA.

The vehicle would be launched into space on a rocket, fly on its own to 
a target, deliver its payload and return to Earth. In the short term, a 
small launch rocket is being developed as part of Falcon. It eventually 
would be able to boost the hypersonic vehicle into space. But in the 
interim, it will be used to launch small satellites within 48 hours' 
notice at a cost of less than $5 million a shot.

Conferees added $100 million above the Bush administration's request for 
nearly $200 million to accelerate "space situational awareness." That is 
code for protecting U.S. satellites in space and being able to attack 
the enemy's satellites.

"Enhancing these capabilities is critical, particularly following the 
Chinese anti-satellite-weapons demonstration last January," the 
conferees wrote in their report. They were referring to a Jan. 11 
incident in which a Chinese guided missile destroyed an aging weather 
satellite in orbit.

"Counterspace systems" that would warn of impending threats to U.S. 
satellites, destroy or defend against attackers, and interrupt enemy 
satellites are in the Bush budget for $53 million. Conferees gave them 
another $10 million.

One research project of $7 million in that category is directed at 
"offensive counterspace," described in the Pentagon's presentation to 
Congress as designing "the means to disrupt, deny, degrade or destroy an 
adversary's space systems, or the information they provide."

Another $18 million would go for research into a second-generation 
counter-satellite-communications system; it would explore and develop 
capabilities "to provide disruption of satellite communications signals 
in response to U.S. Strategic Command requirements," according to the 
Pentagon congressional presentation. The first-generation system is 
already operational, and an upgrade of those capabilities is in production.

The conferees want to increase funds for the Rapid Identification 
Detection and Reporting System, which already had $28 million in the 
Bush budget. This system is designed to provide "attack detection, 
threat identification and characterization, and support rapid mission 
impact assessments on U.S. space systems."

Its first-generation system is scheduled for initial operation at the 
end of next year, while the new funds will allow continuation of 
research on a second generation, which began this year.

Part of the funding will also go toward work on integrating this system, 
which detects enemy threats to U.S. satellites, with the offensive 
counterspace and counter-satellite-communications programs. Eventually, 
they would be linked with U.S. command-and-control systems "in support 
of space control and the counterspace mission areas," according to the 
Pentagon's presentation to Congress.

Integration of these developing counterspace missions with a current 
command-and-control system is expected by the middle of 2008, according 
to documents provided to Congress.
--
National security and intelligence reporter Walter Pincus pores over the 
speeches, reports, transcripts and other documents that flood Washington 
and every week uncovers the fine print that rarely makes headlines -- 
but should. If you have any items that fit the bill, please send them to 
fineprint at washpost.com <mailto:fineprint at washpost.com>
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