Official Details Results Of US Missile Review

SPX via Missile Defense ^ | 4/22/2010 | SPX via Missile Defense

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Ballistic missiles are an increasing threat to the United States and the Defense Department must keep up with them, the deputy undersecretary of defense for policy said. James N. Miller, speaking about the department's Nuclear Posture Review April 20 before the Senate Armed Services Committee, said several nations are developing nuclear, chemical or biological warheads for their missiles.

The threat to the U.S. homeland is most acute from states such as North Korea and Iran, Mr. Miller said.

"Neither has yet acquired ICBMs that could reach the United States, but both are working to acquire and/or develop long-range ballistic missile capabilities, including space-launched vehicles, which include many of the necessary technologies," he said.

Short- and medium-range missiles have proliferated rapidly over the past decade. Iran and North Korea are the primary troublemakers, Mr. Miller said, and represent significant regional missile threats.

Mr. Miller listed six policy priorities for U.S. missile defense. The first is to continue to defend the homeland against the threat of limited ballistic missile attack