Strategic Weapons: March 31, 2000

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: The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization has asked Congress for another $1 billion in funding, and details plans to spend it as follows: $300 million to reduce risk in testing the missile defense program $20 million would go to place a THAAD guidance radar at the Pacific Missile Test Range to facilitate further testing of the Navy Theater Wide missile system. $160 million to reduce risk in moving the Navy Theater Wide system into manufacturing development $150 million would be used to open early deployment options for THAAD $112 million would be used to accelerate the Patriot PAC-3 program and buy eight additional missiles to accommodate emergencies and foreign sales $75 million would go to accelerate the Navy Area Defense program $28 million would buy nine Standard-2(4A) Missiles to launch early production $100 million would go to enhance research & development in "critical related technologies" $25 million would buy a "quick reaction team" to study any new foreign missiles that show unusual flight characteristics $37 million would go to support system integration testing. --Stephen V Cole