US Missile Defense System Fails, Says Gov’t Report.

America’s Missile Defense Systems Need Upgrades, Says Government Watchdog

Overview

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency has failed to upgrade its radar and missile interceptor systems, leaving America’s missile defense system with less fielded capability than planned, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office. The report found that supply-line issues and a developmental backlog have prevented the Pentagon’s top missile defense systems from receiving critical updates.

Implications

The findings are a warning bell for the Biden administration as it faces down a range of threats from increasingly hostile nations like North Korea and Iran. The Missile Defense Agency’s repeated failure to upgrade and test its equipment signals the United States may not be prepared to handle rapidly evolving threats from nations like China, which currently has more intercontinental ballistic missiles than the United States.

Funding and Testing

The Department of Defense has poured $194 billion into the Missile Defense Agency since 2002, including a $10.4 billion investment in 2022. However, according to the GAO report, these funds have not been sufficient to keep the Missile Defense Agency fully operational and prepared to fend off an attack from the country’s enemies. The agency only “partially met its sensor delivery goals,” and has “delayed operational acceptance of two radars” until later this year at the earliest, according to the report.

Testing Shortfalls

The agency “didn’t deliver all of its planned interceptors and radar upgrades” in 2022, and “didn’t complete its planned flight, ground, or cyber tests for its systems.” The Missile Defense Agency still has not implemented “23 previously issued recommendations” related to its “testing, transparency, and cost reporting.” The agency “conducted less than half of its planned fiscal year 2022 testing,” including flight and ground tests that demonstrate whether or not the nation’s defense system can adequately fend off a missile barrage.

Conclusion

As the Missile Defense Agency falls short of its goals, America’s enemies are forging ahead. Over the past year, China doubled the number of missiles in its arsenal capable of hitting the United States, according to the Pentagon. The agency’s failures have left America’s missile defense system vulnerable to “missile threats from foreign adversaries,” such as China, Iran, and North Korea.

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