National Missile Defense Architecture; Land or Space-Based Defense Systems-Deciding Which System(S) Are the Most Efficient for Our Nation’s Defense
National Missile Defense Architecture; Land or Space-based Defense systems-deciding which system(s) are the most efficient for our nation’s defense
Submitted in partial fulfillment for the requirements for course
(AW570 National Missile Defense)
Caesar A. Garcia
American Public University System
April 8, 2006
Over the past four decades the need for designing comprehensive national missile defense system(s) has been argued in our nation’s legislative chambers. The question was then and remains, is there a legitimate need for a national missile defense system? I strongly believe the real question(s) should be; what type of national missile defense would protect the United States (U.S.) in the most efficient manner? Will the risk factors to the American populace be at a minimum? I believe the U.S. needs to commit to developing the best terrestrial-based laser possible. The advantages presented by this type of weapon far outweigh those of space-based lasers. I will discuss the advantages of both space and terrestrial-based missile defense systems in detail at an appropriate point within this paper. During the 1950s the Cold War ignited the arms race with the former Soviet Union and the birth of the Inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). “In 1951 Project MX-1593 (Project Atlas) begins. Air Force established Project Atlas, study phase for an intercontinental missile.”[i] As the Soviets continued with their development of long-range missiles, the U.S. continued their push for the dominance of projectile missiles. By 1955 “Atlas was given top development priority. U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff, Nathan F. Twining, reported that ICBM’s were receiving priority in the Air Force program because of known Soviet progress. Additional ICBM programs Navaho, Snark, and Atlas were accelerated.”[ii] The development of missile technology continued improving throughout the 1950s. When the
Submitted in partial fulfillment for the requirements for course
(AW570 National Missile Defense)
Caesar A. Garcia
American Public University System
April 8, 2006
Over the past four decades the need for designing comprehensive national missile defense system(s) has been argued in our nation’s legislative chambers. The question was then and remains, is there a legitimate need for a national missile defense system? I strongly believe the real question(s) should be; what type of national missile defense would protect the United States (U.S.) in the most efficient manner? Will the risk factors to the American populace be at a minimum? I believe the U.S. needs to commit to developing the best terrestrial-based laser possible. The advantages presented by this type of weapon far outweigh those of space-based lasers. I will discuss the advantages of both space and terrestrial-based missile defense systems in detail at an appropriate point within this paper. During the 1950s the Cold War ignited the arms race with the former Soviet Union and the birth of the Inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). “In 1951 Project MX-1593 (Project Atlas) begins. Air Force established Project Atlas, study phase for an intercontinental missile.”[i] As the Soviets continued with their development of long-range missiles, the U.S. continued their push for the dominance of projectile missiles. By 1955 “Atlas was given top development priority. U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff, Nathan F. Twining, reported that ICBM’s were receiving priority in the Air Force program because of known Soviet progress. Additional ICBM programs Navaho, Snark, and Atlas were accelerated.”[ii] The development of missile technology continued improving throughout the 1950s. When the