Number: RL33745
Title: Sea-Based Ballistic Missile Defense - Background and Issues for Congress
Authors: Ronald O'Rourke, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division 
Abstract: Potential issues for Congress regarding sea-based BMD systems include technical risk in the Aegis BMD program, the number of Aegis BMD ships, the role of Aegis BMD in European missile defense, the number of SM-3 interceptors planned for procurement, the proposal to equip the SM-3 Block IIA missile with a Multiple Kill Vehicle (MKV), whether development a far-term sea-based terminaldefense BMD capability should be accelerated, the potential role of the Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) in sea-based BMD operations, procurement of the planned CG(X) cruiser, development and testing of the Aegis BMD system, and potential allied sea-based BMD programs.
Pages: 57
Date: November 21, 2008