Pentagon report warns lack of testing limits confidence in missile defense

WASHINGTON (AFP) Jan 22, 2004
A Pentagon report warned Wednesday that existing testing data gives only limited confidence in a missile defense system that the United States is intent on deploying beginning this year.

The Pentagon's director of operational test and evaluation, Thomas Christie said in an annual report very little testing of the system was performed in 2003 "due to immature BMDS (ballistic missile defense system) components."

The Missile Defense Agency will therefore depend on two flight tests scheduled this year to validate its mid-course missile defense system, which is designed to intercept long-range missiles in space, according to the report.

"Even with successful intercepts in both of these attempts, the small number of tests would limit confidence in the integrated interceptor performance," the report said.

President George W. Bush has directed the Pentagon to begin deploying the system this year even though it is still in development.

Senator Jack Reed, a Democrat of Rhode Island, said the report "makes it clear that in a rush to win an ideological victory, President Bush risks prematurely deploying a missile defense system by 2004 that is technologically unproven and will drain resources from other essential priorities."

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