The Airborne Laser and the Future of Theater Missile Defense

<p>The theater ballistic missile (TBM) problem encountered in the Persian Gulf War revealed an alarming deficiency in US defenses. This paper takes a brief look at the major theater missile defense (TMD) systems in use and under development by the US today. Second it focuses on the performance of the Army's Patriot defense system in the Gulf War. Finally the paper offers an in-depth look at the development of the Airborne Laser (ABL) and how it should fit into an overall national structure for TMD. The paper concludes that Patriot performance in the Gulf war was unsatisfactory not just because of system flaws but because of the concept of point defense itself. The ABL provides a unique solution to collateral damage inherent in point defense concepts. In addition the ABL can provide advanced warning to other theater defense systems in the event of a mass launch which could overtax the ABL's capabilities. The paper offers several recommendations for the future direction of TMD. First phase out point defense completely and channel those funds into development of the other TMD systems which minimize collateral damage to the assets they are intended to protect. Second expedite development of the ABL as the first line of TMD backed up by long-range theater systems. Third continue to develop true theater defense systems; that is systems which have a range of hundreds of kilometers such as the Navy's Aegis and the Army's THAAD systems preventing TBMs from getting close to their intended target.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>