Vice Adm. James D. Syring of the U.S. Navy, director of the Missile Defense Agency, told the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee in June that a ballistic missile threat continues to grow.

Syring testified on a proposed $7.459 billion budget for 2014-15 before the committee’s Defense Subcommittee. He advocated continuing development of defenses for the nation, deployed forces, allies and international partners against increasingly capable ballistic missiles. The request supports needed improvements in homeland defense and continues strong support of regional defense initiatives, according to Syring’s testimony posted on www.mda.mil/about/enviro_cis.html.

“The threat continues to grow as our potential adversaries are acquiring a greater number of ballistic missiles, increasing their range and making them more complex, survivable, reliable and accurate,” he said, according to an unclassified statement on the Defense Agency’s website.

The missile defense mission is becoming more challenging as potential adversaries incorporate (ballistic missile defense system) countermeasures, he said.

“Space-launch activities in Iran and North Korea involve multistage systems that serve to further the development of ballistic missile technology for longer range systems, including intercontinental ballistic missile-applicable technologies and systems,” according to Syring’s testimony.

As the director of National Intelligence testified last year, Syring said, “Iran has demonstrated an ability to launch small satellites, and we grow increasingly concerned that these technical steps provide Tehran with the means and motivation to develop larger space-launch vehicles and longer-range missiles, including (intercontinental ballistic missiles.)”

Iran could develop and test an (intercontinental ballistic missile) capable of reaching the U.S. by 2015, the testimony states.

In addition to the Taepodong-2 space launch vehicle/intercontinental ballistic missile, North Korea is developing and has paraded the KNO8 road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile and an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of reaching Guam and the Aleutian Islands, Syring stated.

“Iran also has steadily increased its ballistic missile force, deploying next generation short- and medium-range ballistic missiles with increasing accuracy and new submunition payloads,” Syring stated.

Iran has publicly demonstrated the ability to launch simultaneous salvos of multiple rockets and missiles, according to the testimony.

Demonstrating that it is capable of modifying currently deployed ballistic missile systems, Iran has flight-tested a Fateh-110 ballistic missile called the Khalij Fars by adding a seeker to improve the missile’s accuracy against sea-based targets, he said.

“This ballistic missile has a range of 300 kilometers, which means it is capable of threatening maritime activity throughout the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz,” according to testimony.

The Missile Defense Agency is in the process of conducting an environmental impact study on four potential locations of intercontinental missile interceptor sites. Redington Township in northern Franklin County is one of the four sites being considered. The others are in Ohio, Michigan and New York.

dperry@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link