Jack Reed: “The system that is most developed is one I mentioned previously, the PAC-3 system. It is a theater missile system. It is…”

“The system that is most developed is one I mentioned previously, the PAC-3 system. It is a theater missile system. It is not designed to counter long-range threats. It has been tested rigorously. It is in operational testing now. Phil Coyle states that the administration is considering an advanced version of PAC-3 for a national missile defense. But if you were trying to use it in a terminal phase it would take many systems to defend a rather small area of the United States. We probably would never have the number of systems needed to adequately defend the United States. Another system we have been developing for years is the THAAD system. Phil Coyle states that the Administration is also considering use of THAAD along with PAC-3 for national missile defense. But in its current configuration THAAD is not ready for this role. In fact, it is far away from it--perhaps a decade before it could be reasonably used in that way. The other system being developed as we speak is a Navy theater-wide system. It is a midcourse system as it is currently designed. They are now talking about this system as a potential element of their midcourse national missile defense. Again, there are still significant issues with respect to the use of this system for national missile defense.”