Readers React: About that missile shield

Both the $40-billion Midcourse Defense System ordered by President George W. Bush and the $60-billion “Star Wars” system sought by President Reagan were known to be doomed to both strategic and technological failure before the first test. (“$40-billion missile defense system proves unreliable,” June 15)

Reagan’s dream was to develop the capability of shooting down the Soviet Union’s nuclear arsenal and to provide a shield from 10,000 independently targetable warheads traveling at 15,000 miles per hour. Bush set his sights a little lower: He sought protection from Iranian and North Korean threats.

A Pentagon official said we’d need to fire up to three missiles at each target. We now have 30 interceptors that cost more than $1 billion each, although neither North Korea nor Iran possesses the capability we strive to destroy.

How much diplomacy could $100 billion buy?

Kevin H. Park

Encino

Four successful intercept tests in a row with these interceptors took place before their deployment in 2004; this provided high confidence in their reliability. Since then, this interceptor has had three more successful intercepts to provide a 75% confidence level from its last four tests. This same CE-1 interceptor represents the majority of the currently deployed interceptors protecting our nation.

This system was never designed to be reliant on one shot; it operates by firing multiple interceptors at one missile, thereby mathematically increasing its reliability to intercept above 95%.

The program’s problems have been caused by misguided leadership and the lack of investment from the Obama administration. In 2009, the more modern Multiple Kill Vehicle was terminated and a cheaper adaptation to the interceptor was selected. This decision aggravated the problem.

Furthermore, a new contract with Boeing Co. was put in place that incentivized cost-cutting.

Riki Ellison

Alexandria, Va.

The writer is chairman and founder of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance.