thruster nozzle in the DACS, which prevented flight control of the missile. Fabrication procedures were revised to prevent this problem. Flights ten and eleven were successful intercepts.

THAAD has implemented many design changes and greatly enhanced its Quality Assurance program as a result of "lessons learned" from failures due to poor hardware quality during PD&RR. These changes and an increased emphasis on Quality Assurance practices have resulted in a rigorous Quality Assurance program and will preclude the same type of failures experienced during PD&RR. To the present time, testing is being conducted to verify the acceptability of THAAD component design to meet requirements and to verify fabrication processes. Current, rigorous ground testing at the piece part level is greatly facilitating the early identification and resolution of technical issues.

Question. The Committee understands that the current THAAD program baseline has added 18 months of testing and $850 million above the previous baseline. Please explain why the schedule and funding requirements have changed.

Answer. The additional 18 months of testing addressed compares the current THAAD baseline to the previous phase of the program. For the current Development Phase of the element program in the BMDS, additional time was allocated to comprehensively test the system at the piece-part and sub-assembly levels and to complete the verification of design testing prior to completion of design activity on the program. The current program baseline allows for much more extensive pre-flight qualification testing to occur prior to the first flight. In addition, program funding was increased in fiscal year 2002 to advance design and ground test activities, conduct earlier integrated element testing, and add two flight tests to the program. Hardware deliveries and software upgrades have been re-phased to allow for a minimum of three flight tests a year beginning in late fiscal year 2004 and continuing each fiscal year through the conclusion of the flight test program in second quarter, fiscal year 2009. Program changes have resulted in extending the duration of the flight test schedule to second quarter fiscal year 2009 (originally planned to end in first quarter fiscal year 2008).

Question. Please explain the relationship between the THAAD radar and the Green Pine radar used for the Arrow missile defense system.

Answer. The THAAD and Arrow radars both provide targeting data that is transmitted to the system interceptors for defensive operations. However, the radars operate in different frequencies with different operational characteristics. Both THAAD and Arrow use Link-16 interoperability, allowing the radars to exchange track and cueing data.

a. The Arrow Green Pine is an L-band radar. L-band provides excellent long-range surveillance but has limited discrimination capability. The Green Pine was designed for operation at fixed sites. While the radar is road-mobile, it is not strategically deployable by air due to size and ground support requirements. L-band is generally less expensive than X-band, and the Israelis chose L-band for the Arrow primarily due to cost considerations.

b. The THAAD system uses an X-band radar. X-band provides better discrimination and smaller radar antenna size than lower-frequency bands, but the resulting narrower beam width limits its capability for wide area surveillance. The THAAD radar generally uses external satellite cueing for initial tracking. Because of its smaller size, the THAAD radar can be both tactically and strategically deployed by aircraft very rapidly anywhere in the world.

SPACE TRACKING AND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM (STSS)

Question. Formerly the Space-Based Infrared Surveillance-Low (SBIRS-Low), the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) will place satellites in low earth orbit to demonstrate this technology and enhance tracking performance of BMDS interceptors. The Missile Defense Agency plans to launch two satellites to complement BMDS radar assets. A key aspect of this program is the additional discrimination that infrared sensors provide as a complement to the radar systems used in the BMDS.

Please explain how the infrared capability provided by the STSS program complements tracking radars that operate within the earth's atmosphere? What is timeline for implementing these capabilities?

Answer. A constellation of STSS satellites would provide global tracking of missiles from the boost phase through interception filling the gaps in terrestrial-based radars. STSS' infrared sensors complement radars as the two phenomenologies perform differently against countermeasures. Radar countermeasures do not have much effect on infrared tracking and discrimination and infrared countermeasures do not have much effect on radar tracking and discrimination. STSS will field two R&D

satellites in fiscal year 2007 with additional satellites planned for Block 2010. These satellites will provide the data needed to determine the future role of space based infrared sensors in the BMDS architecture. A constellation of STSS satellites would have the additional benefit of providing continuous global tracking.

Question. Block 2006 calls for fiscal year 2007 launch of two "low-risk" satellites for contribution to the BMD test bed. Please describe the planned satellite launches and other activities planned for block 2006 as funded in 2004 budget request.

Answer. The Block 2006 program consists of satellite hardware from the Flight Demonstration System (FDS) program and a ground station for the operation of the 2006 and future STSS satellites. The FDS satellites were planned demonstration flights under the SBIRS Low program. As the hardware is already built and performance relatively well understood, the hardware is considered low risk. The 2004 budget request supports the continued testing, integration and launch of the FDS satellites in 2007.

Question. Please compare the planned satellite launches under the STSS program to the launches planned under SBIRS-Low.

Answer. The STSS program, through a spiral development approach, will launch a series of R&D satellites beginning in fiscal year 2007, with follow-on satellites containing more advanced technologies in Block 2010. These satellites will work in conjunction with the BMDS Testbed with the expressed purpose of demonstrating the contribution of space based infrared sensors to missile tracking and closing the fire control loop. While the inherent discrimination capability of the Block 2006 satellites will be assessed, follow-on satellites will explore this contribution more thoroughly. The performance of the R&D satellites will provide the basis to make an informed decision on what kind of constellation would optimize BMDS performance. The old SBIRS Low program was a traditional ORD based acquisition program. The first satellite of the operational constellation was to be launched in 2006 with the full constellation on orbit in the 2011 timeframe.

Question. Part of block 2006 includes a "system capability review". What is the purpose of this review? Is it a surrogate for the more traditional acquisition process milestones? Is it a gateway to subsequent blocks of missile defense development? Answer. System Capability Reviews replace System Requirements Reviews as the initial step in defining a block capability.

Question. Blocks 2008 and 2010 emphasize improvements in algorithms and discrimination. Please explain the objectives of these blocks of development.

Answer. Block 2008 provides upgrades to the Ground Segment, data processing and discrimination algorithms of the Block 2006 satellites. Block 2010 provides an additional R&D satellite, nominally planned for launch in 2011. As the desired capabilities of the Block 2010 satellites have not yet been determined, there is uncertainty in this launch date. One of the key goals in the Block 2010 program is to advance the understanding of the discrimination capabilities of space based infrared

sensors.

Question. Block 2010 proposes developing a common "bus" for future satellites. Please explain the objective of this part of the STSS program. Will the bus increase commonality of satellite design and reduce costs? Improve reliability? Are there other benefits?

Answer. The objective of the common bus is to provide a common basis for the series of R&D satellites being developed under STSS. As the STSS program is structured to field progressively more advanced sensors to demonstrate key functionality to the BMDS, sensors will evolve from block to block. While the corresponding bus composition for each may not be identical, the goal of the common bus is to have an open architecture with as many standard components as possible-such as communication gear, cooling systems, solar arrays, and satellite superstructure. This common bus design will provide a common framework into which multiple sensors can be integrated and operated as a heterogeneous constellation. Long-term benefits are expected to be reduced costs, quicker design cycles, and increased reliability.

Question. In the fall of 2001 the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) created a program to develop targets and countermeasures to support the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). MDA indicates that this effort develops "capabilities driven" materials intended to test BMDS components over a range of possible conditions rather than attempting to duplicate specific threat systems. $278.3 million is included in the fiscal year 2004 budget request for this program.

Explain the objectives of the Targets and Countermeasures program and your progress to date developing materials to test the BMDS system.

Answer. Note: The fiscal year 2004 President's Budget request for the Targets and Countermeasures program was $249.1 million, and not $278.3 million.

Objectives of Targets and Countermeasures: The Targets and Countermeasures program mission is to:

• Design, develop, fabricate, and provide capability-driven, reliable, and costeffective ballistic missile targets and countermeasures to test the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS).

• Implement advanced developmental initiatives that are capabilities driven to support BMDS Block development. Develop threat credible new target boosters and payloads to support increased complexity and pace for the BMDS and BMDS Elements' testing. This includes countermeasures, reentry vehicles, instrumentation, and adaptor sections/deployment mechanisms.

• Award the Prime Contract for single system management of Targets and Countermeasures. The prime contractor will be responsible for managing and executing the entire MDA Targets and Countermeasures Program. The prime contract will provide comprehensive Systems Engineering support, deliver reliable target system performance, provide assistance to understand, manage and continually reduce target acquisition cycle time drivers and constraints, control program costs to attain best value and to stimulate creative cost reduction initiatives, and focus on components and capability-based product lines through integration and launch of target systems.

Materials Development to Date:

Developed two reentry vehicle systems (Medium Target Reentry Vehicle and Generic Rest Of World) and associated countermeasure/decoy suites to address test requirements of multiple components of the BMDS.

• Established a program for payload development and successfully completed countermeasure payload development for two Advanced Concepts Flight Tests (third quarter, fiscal year 2003).

• Completed development of a countermeasure payload for the Critical Measurement Program (CMP-4) planned for second quarter, fiscal year 2005-2007. • Initiated the design phase of the Small Low Observable (SLO) target suite, which includes a dynamic range reentry vehicle and associated countermeasures. SLO is a robust target designed to test a wide span of the BMDS capability space during fiscal year 2007.xxxxxxXXX

Initiated payload development for the Critical Measurements and Countermeasures-1 Flight Test.

Completed awards for the Short Range Air Launch Targets (SRALT) and Long Range Air Launch Targets (LRALT), Medium Range Target, Short Range Liquid Fuel Target Booster, and Foreign Materiel Acquisition Risk Reduction Flight. A risk reduction flight of the LRALT target is planned for the fourth quarter, fiscal year 2003.

Question. The Committee understands that the program philosophy is to develop targets and materials to test a range of capabilities rather than to duplicate specific threat systems. What will MDA do to ensure that this program is periodically updated to reflect the capabilities of threat systems?

Answer. MDA has a capability-based system engineering and integration and testing process which defines, manages, integrates, demonstrates, and tests all BMDS capabilities. The BMDS evolutionary acquisition process is driven to counter the adversary's capability (threat) as described in the Adversary Capability Document (ACD). Targets are designed to emulate the technical parameters in the ACD that demonstrates the capability of the BMDS beyond current threat capabilities. The ACD will be updated periodically based on intelligence information, but the goal of the capabilities-based BMDS development, which also extends to the test target program, is to anticipate and stay ahead of the threat.

Question. The Committee understands that one of the major program goals for fiscal year 2004 is the award of a prime contract for a single system manager of Targets and Countermeasures. How will this contract award advance the Targets and Countermeasures program?

Answer. The prime contractor, as a single system management element, will be responsible for managing and executing the entire MDA Targets and Countermeasures Program. The prime contract will provide comprehensive Systems Engineering support, deliver reliable target system performance, provide assistance to understand, manage and continually reduce target acquisition cycle time drivers and constraints, control program costs to attain best value, stimulate creative cost reduction initiatives, and focus on interchangeable components and capability-based product lines including integration and launch of target systems.

[CLERK'S NOTE.-End of questions submitted by Mr. Lewis.]

THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2003.

COMBATANT COMMANDER, UNITED STATES NORTHERN

COMMAND

WITNESS

GENERAL RALPH E. EBERHART, COMMANDER, NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND, AND UNITED STATES NORTHERN COMMAND, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

INTRODUCTION

Mr. LEWIS. The Committee will come to order. I am sure someone communicated to you that the President was scheduled to be at an Irish luncheon here in the building, and some of us decided to attend, and the President was called to other things, and Vice President Cheney was present. In the meantime, we very much appreciate you being with us. You and I spent a little time together yesterday. But at the beginning of the meeting I would like to have a motion to close in order to carry forward the business at a level of security that is necessary.

So with that, the room is secure. It is conceivable we will get to the point where the security will be on the level that, if that is the case, you will help us honor that, General, we may need to clear the room and we will see what happens.

We are pleased to welcome the commanding general of U.S. Northern Command, General Ralph E. Eberhart. Northern Command was established in October of 2002, and General Eberhart is its first commanding general. He is not only our newest regional commander, but the one who is responsible for executing the Department of Defense's role in homeland defense.

As we had our personal conversation yesterday, we spent a lot of time discussing the reality that homeland defense is a new idea seemingly to all of us, the role that you have to play with those who are responsible at a domestic level, local law enforcement otherwise, is certainly a brand-new kind of experience and a challenge for all of us. But then bringing in those agencies who have dealt in challenges overseas as well, the CIA and the FBI and others, new ground is being laid.

I want to tell you how much I appreciate the service that you have given throughout your career to the country. If there is a guy with stars on his shoulders who is up to this challenge, I consider General Eberhart to be certainly that guy. I am not going to dwell on extensive comments on my own. But first, as you are assigned to deter, prevent, defeat threats and aggression aimed at the United States, its territories, interests within your area of responsibility, U.S. NORTHCOM has been the lead DoD command in providing military assistance to our country's civil authorities as well.

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