{"id":30364,"date":"2018-08-05T22:00:44","date_gmt":"2018-08-05T22:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/08\/05\/congress-intensifies-push-for-reluctant-mda-to-focus-on-space-based-missile-defense\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:33:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:33:09","slug":"congress-intensifies-push-for-reluctant-mda-to-focus-on-space-based-missile-defense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/land\/2018\/08\/05\/congress-intensifies-push-for-reluctant-mda-to-focus-on-space-based-missile-defense\/","title":{"rendered":"Congress intensifies push for reluctant MDA to focus on space-based missile defense"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Congress is intensifying its push <\/a>for the Missile Defense Agency to focus money and near-term efforts to create a space-based sensor architecture and intercept layer for ballistic missile defense \u2014 all this after the agency came out with a fiscal 2019 budget request almost virtually absent of plans and programs to move ahead on such capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A space-based sensor layer\u2019s persistent vantage point would provide hostile missile tracking from birth to death, a capability far beyond that of ground sensors. Missile defense experts believe a space-based missile defense architecture would dramatically improve the lethality of both homeland and regional missile defense, especially against emerging threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its FY19 national defense authorization conference report, lawmakers want to see a more concerted effort from the MDA to make space-based missile defense a reality by authorizing additional funds, and particularly calling for plans that would begin development of a sensor architecture in FY19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The House version of the defense authorization bill would have directed the MDA, and other major agencies and commands related to space efforts, to complete a plan and start development in FY19 for a space-based missile defense sensor architecture. But it would limit funds until a plan was presented to Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Senate bill required the MDA to begin development of the architecture unless the Missile Defense Review<\/a> stated otherwise. The review is expected to be unveiled very shortly. The document\u2019s release was predicted to drop late last year, but was delayed on several occasions.<\/p>\n\n\n\t