Missile Defense: Knowledge-Based Process Would Benefit Airborne Laser Decision-Making.

摘要

This document discusses the Missile Defense Agency's strategy for acquiring ballistic missile defense systems. GAO issued a report on July 12, 2002, that examined whether the Missile Defense Agency's new strategy for developing the Airborne Laser includes practices that are characteristic of successful developmental programs. Our observations today will reflect the knowledge that we gained from that work. If the Department of Defense is successful in its efforts to develop and field the Airborne Laser, it could be an important system because it would give the United States some capability to destroy enemy missiles over the enemy's own territory. Enemy states that could launch ballistic missiles with chemical or biological warheads toward the United States, its deployed troops, or allies could be deterred from doing so if that enemy knew that the chemical and biological agents might fall back to earth over its own territory.