The Missile Defense Agency has begun the process of developing a successor to the current crop of Aegis interceptors meant for ballistic missile defense, according to a draft request for proposals posted this week on Federal Business Opportunities. 664 words

Navy officials are examining ways to simplify the Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense system by essentially taking an Aegis BMD system that would be equipped on a cruiser or destroyer and just placing it on land, according to Capt. James Kilby, commanding officer of the cruiser Monterey (CG-61).525 words

The Pentagon is asking Congress for permission to use nearly $2.2 million from two Air Force accounts for a program designed to provide a U.S.-Czech ballistic missile shared early warning capability. If Congress agrees, the program could start this calendar year. 1133 words

A preliminary report by the German ministry of defense has recommended pursuing the tri-national Medium Extended Air Defense System because it would contribute to an emerging NATO missile defense capability, not because the weapon is needed for the security of Germany alone. 778 words

Don't expect the Senate to complete ratification of the follow-on Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty anytime soon, according to Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ). 586 words

The Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis recently issued a report on the role of missile defense in countering the electromagnetic-pulse threat, particularly from terrorists operating from a cargo ship off the continental United States. "In particular, this means that we should seek all means to prevent a threatening vessel from approaching U.S. territorial waters close enough to launch an EMP-threatening ballistic missile -- and failing that, to intercept the missile in its ascent phase before it releases a nuclear warhead," the report states, adding: "We should increase deployment of -- and continue to improve -- this defense capability, which will be imperfect initially."106 words

The Air Force has updated the way it develops operational capability requirements, releasing a new guidance that takes into account policy changes and a number of reforms to implement in the service's weapon buying shop, according to Pentagon documents. 373 words

The Army's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system could cost hundreds of millions more than budgeted if prime contractor Lockheed Martin maintains program performance through development contract completion in January 2011, according to a Government Accountability Office report released July 14.625 words

The Pentagon's acquisition executive has established a standing advisory panel to regularly assess the vulnerability of U.S. military weapons to attack from an electromagnetic pulse designed to cripple microcircuits and electronic systems.928 words

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) pressed Navy Undersecretary Robert Work last week to re-examine the possibility of designing a smaller submarine-launched nuclear missile so the service could avoid designing an expensive new sub, jeopardizing future budgets. 710 words

Air Force officials delayed the Atlas V-propelled launch of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite for 10 days after a newly designed separation nut failed testing, according to a service spokeswoman. 262 words

The Pentagon plans to strip millions of Air Force dollars from a number of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance procurement programs and boost funding for intelligence analysis and exploitation capabilities, according to a recent reprogramming notice.887 words

Pentagon procurement chief Ashton Carter wants officials running the most sensitive classified defense programs to work closely with the Defense Contract Management Agency in a way his predecessor never advocated.899 words

Defense Secretary Robert Gates' big push for efficiencies is "not a budget drill," but instead is about "turning fat into muscle," Pentagon industrial policy chief Brett Lambert told defense industry representatives June 15 at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.814 words