Article

2007-09-05 Home Front: WoT

Budget Cut Will Delay Anti-Missile Laser

The system is on-track and moving forward. The Dhimmicrats are bound and determined to cut it.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Boeing Co. executive on Tuesday warned that proposed budget cuts by U.S. lawmakers could delay the completion of an anti-missile aircraft by two years. Both the Senate and House Armed Services committees have slashed the president's fiscal 2008 proposed budget request of $549 million for the airborne laser program, or ABL, that will be used to thwart enemy missiles in the sky. In July, the House Appropriations committee agreed to a smaller cut of $51 million from the program.

Boeing and its teammates Northrop Grumman Corp. and Lockheed Martin Corp. are awaiting the Senate Appropriations committee to finalize its budget by the end of the month. Greg Hyslop, a Boeing vice president, told reporters in a conference call that the level of cuts by both committees would delay the company's ability to complete the program by at least two years. Hyslop said in order to stay on track it will need the full funding of the president's budget request.

The airborne laser program, which is being installed on a modified Boeing 747 aircraft, is designed to detect, track and engage a ballistic missile from a rogue state in the sky. On Friday, the Missile Defense Agency said the Boeing-led team sailed through initial testing of the anti-missile aircraft on Aug. 23 at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The aircraft completed 48 flight test missions and fired its laser more than 200 times, according to the agency.

The next phase of testing will begin in late 2008 using Northrop's high-energy laser. The companies have already begun to install the upgraded laser at Edwards Air Force Base, according to Boeing.

Posted by Steve White 2007-09-05 00:00|| || Front Page|| [16 views ] Top

#1 FREEREPUBLIC > Russia moves closer to making military claim on Arctic.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2007-09-05 04:54|| 2007-09-05 04:54|| Front Page Top

#2 Not necessarily.

Posted by Avi from Rafael 2007-09-05 06:29|| 2007-09-05 06:29|| Front Page Top

#3 This one really needs funding, folks.

Posted by lotp 2007-09-05 08:17|| 2007-09-05 08:17|| Front Page Top

#4 Nope. Missile defense is impossible and unworkable. If we have to slash the budget to prove it, so be it.

Posted by Senator Carl Levin">Senator Carl Levin 2007-09-05 08:57|| http://home.earthlink.net/~sleepyjackal/index.html]">[http://home.earthlink.net/~sleepyjackal/index.html] 2007-09-05 08:57|| Front Page Top

#5 It used to be the Dhimmis would oppose any weapon system on the grounds that we would only be provoking our foes. Now they have abandoned even this kindergarten logic and oppose without knowing why they do so.

Posted by Excalibur 2007-09-05 09:27|| 2007-09-05 09:27|| Front Page Top

#6 The Democrats who voted for this need to be brutally punished with an advertising campaign:

"If America is attacked with nuclear missiles, here is a list of Congressmen and Senators to be blamed for leaving us defenseless. They want millions of Americans to DIE, they HATE America so much:..."

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-09-05 10:28|| 2007-09-05 10:28|| Front Page Top

#7 They know why they oppose it. Defense cuts into the slush funds for buying votes back home. The Trunks try using ~~graft/pork~~ that approach and get heat. The Donks do it regularly and get votes. Guess who controls Congress?

Posted by Procopius2k 2007-09-05 10:34|| 2007-09-05 10:34|| Front Page Top

#8 US budget cuts may delay US anti-missile laser but we aren't the only player in the field. If Fwance or Israel or India come up with something I'm sure we could make a deal, but we might not like that price, and I would certainly not trust that I received a 'clean' product.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2007-09-05 18:36|| 2007-09-05 18:36|| Front Page Top

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