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ple warheads or countermeasures, such ex-

ity"63 and that "there is no reason why a sea-

pense is neither required nor warranted. To

based NMD system could not work."64

provide meaningful protection from a large

Those comments must be put into con-

accidental or unauthorized launch of Russian

text. To begin with, there is no Navy program

missiles with multiple warheads and counter-

to develop a sea-based NMD capability.

measures, a layered system is probably

Admiral Rempt's comments are primarily

required. But the high cost of such a system is

about the physical ability of the interceptor

not warranted because the threat has a low

missile to engage a long-range missile. In all

probability. And planning to build a sophisti-

likelihood, the limiting factor--or "Achilles'

cated NMD system might adversely affect the

heel"--would not be the interceptor but the

cordial renegotiation of the ABM treaty and

Navy Aegis SPY-1B radar's ability to detect

the stability of the nuclear balance between

and track missiles and/or warheads. That is,

the United States and Russia.

even if the interceptor has the capability to fly

Another impediment to deploying space-

out to long range and high altitude, the radar

based weapons is the requirement for heavy

that supports that interceptor must also be

lift capability to launch all the requisite sys-

able to see out to that range and altitude to

tems into orbit, to both deploy and replenish

acquire, discriminate, track, and engage the

A system includ-

the satellite constellation. Sufficient heavy lift

intended target. In other words, the system

ing space-based

capacity does not presently exist and would

cannot hit what it cannot see. Because ballis-

cost substantial sums to acquire.

tic missiles travel so fast, the target must be

weapons is nei-

seen soon enough to successfully engage it.

ther required nor

Sea-Based NMD

According to BMDO Director Lt. Gen.

warranted.

There have also been proposals to develop

Lester Lyles, "[t]here are limitations on the

a sea-based NMD capability. For example, the

SPY radar on the Aegis ship. . . . [The radar]

Heritage Foundation has proposed using the

does not give you the kind of range we need to

Navy Theater Wide (NTW) missile defense

have to do an NMD mission."65 General Lyles

system (also known as Navy Upper Tier) for

also cites "insufficient burnout velocity and

NMD.60 (In contrast to NMD, which is

the inability of the Navy's Light Exo-Atmos-

pheric Projectile [LEAP] seeker to discrimi-

designed to defend the American homeland

nate adequately between debris, decoys, and

from long-range ballistic missiles, theater

actual reentry vehicles" as reasons why a sea-

missile defense (TMD) systems are designed

based system does not meet the mission

to protect allied nations and U.S. forces in an

requirements for NMD.66 "Insufficient burn-

overseas theater of war from enemy shorter-

range ballistic missiles.) Former Reagan

out velocity" means that the interceptor has

administration officials Frank Gaffney and

insufficient velocity to hit ICBMs, which trav-

Sven Kraemer have also advocated using Navy

el faster and at higher trajectories than theater

TMD systems for national missile defense.61

missiles.

The projected radius for the area that

There seems to be substantial doubt, even

NTW can defend is several hundred kilome-

among knowledgeable military leaders, about

ters, which is largely a function of the capabil-

whether the Navy's proposed Theater Wide

ities of the SPY-1B radar. Cueing from space-

TMD system can provide NMD capability.

based sensors would extend the radar's effec-

Rear Admiral Rod Rempt, deputy assistant

tive range and thus the range of the intercep-

secretary of the Navy for theater combat sys-

tor. But there is not likely to be a quantum

tems, stated that the NTW block I system

leap in the effective range. Therefore, for inter-

"cannot deliver strategic deterrence (i.e.,

cepts of missiles in their terminal phase of

NMD capability) even if the Navy wanted it

descent, an Aegis cruiser/destroyer with an

to."62 However, Admiral Rempt has also stated

NTW capability would have to be positioned

that "NTW block II will have [NMD] capabil-

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