Is MEADs A Missile To Nowhere?

MEADS International photo

‘Missile To Nowhere’ Survives -- DoD Buzz

Army generals have said repeatedly the service doesn’t want it. The Senate voted 94–5 to kill funding in its final year. But much like Michael Myers in the Halloween horror series, this missile defense system just won’t die.

Lockheed Martin’s Medium Extended Air and Missile Defense System, better known as MEADS, sounds like a weapons system the U.S. military might want to invest. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recently announced a $1 billion program to improve U.S. ballistic missile defenses following the nuclear tests and threats from North Korea.

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Update: Stop-gap spending measure funds MEADS missile defense -- Reuters

My Comment: If the termination fees are nearly the same as completion cost ... there is no point in killing the program. But what I like to know is who was the 'idiot' who made sure that this provision was written in the bill.

Why Should The US Support A Missile Defense Program That They Are Not Going To Use?

A MEADS launcher on display. (File photo)

Panetta Presses Congress For MEADs Funding -- DoD Buzz

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta hopes to save an international missile defense program that the U.S. Army has already decided it will not field.

The Pentagon boss wrote a letter sent June 26 to U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawaii, the Senate Appropriations Committee chairman, pleading for his support to insert $400.9 million back into the budget to fund the Medium Extended Air Defense System in 2013. Congress has already denied Panetta’s budget request to fund the mobile missile defense system originally designed to replace the Patriot.

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More News On Providing Funding For The MEADS Program

U.S. leaders see fallout if joint missile funds nixed -- Reuters
Funds for Lockheed-Led Missile Defense Urged by Panetta -- Bloomberg
Panetta Urges Senate Panel To Back MEADS Funding -- Defense News
Panetta pleads for missile defense dollars -- RT