New ICBMs Could Cost Way Above $85B: CAPE’S Morin

New ICBMs Could Cost Way Above $85B: CAPE’S Morin
New ICBMs Could Cost Way Above $85B: CAPE’S Morin

CAPITOL HILL: The Pentagon’s official estimate of $85 billion to replace the Minuteman III ICBM — already 37 percent above the Air Force’s $62 billion figure — is itself a low-end estimate, the head of Cost Assessment & Program Evaluation says. CAPE almost never offers alternative estimates of a program’s cost, said director Jamie Morin,…

Nuke Missile Collaboration Now Up To Air Force: Navy VADM Benedict

Nuke Missile Collaboration Now Up To Air Force: Navy VADM Benedict
Nuke Missile Collaboration Now Up To Air Force: Navy VADM Benedict

WASHINGTON: In theory, the Navy and the Air Force could save money and reduce risk by using common, proven components on both services’ nuclear missiles. In practice, Air Force decisions in the coming months will “make or break the effective implementation of commonality,” said Vice Adm. Terry Benedict, head of the Navy Strategic Systems Programs. “I…

Joint Staff Studies New Options For Missile Defense

Joint Staff Studies New Options For Missile Defense
Joint Staff Studies New Options For Missile Defense

CAPITOL HILL: Minds are changing inside the Pentagon when it comes to the best ways to stop missile attacks, the Army’s top missile defender said this morning. It’s not just that the Joint Staff is conducting a major study of the subject, due out next month, said Lt Gen. David Mann. It’s that a “holistic” array…

Two Alternatives To The Bad Iran Deal

Two Alternatives To The Bad Iran Deal
Two Alternatives To The Bad Iran Deal

The July nuclear deal concedes far too much to Iran and will increase its capacity to terrorize the Middle East and American interests and allies there. There are at least two diplomatic alternatives to the July deal on Iranian nuclear activity. We can stick with the interim agreement — just extend it — which is…

Navy Wants To Work With Air Force On New Nukes: VADM Benedict

Navy Wants To Work With Air Force On New Nukes: VADM Benedict
Navy Wants To Work With Air Force On New Nukes: VADM Benedict

CAPITOL HILL: As the Air Force train pulls out of the station, the Navy’s running alongside asking to be pulled aboard. Both services will need to replace aging nuclear missiles sometime ca. 2030. They could save money by coordinating their modernization programs — but the Air Force is on a tighter schedule and the window…

Missile Defense Strategy ‘Not Sustainable,’ Salvation Lies In R&D

Missile Defense Strategy ‘Not Sustainable,’ Salvation Lies In R&D
Missile Defense Strategy ‘Not Sustainable,’ Salvation Lies In R&D

CAPITOL HILL: America’s missile defense strategy is “not sustainable,” the deputy director of the Missile Defense Agency said today. We can’t keep buying multi-million-dollar interceptors to shoot down adversaries’ ever-growing arsenals of much cheaper offensive missiles, said Brig. Gen. Kenneth Todorov. We have to find a better way, Todorov said: lasers, jammers, something. That means…