Defense Strategies for Advanced Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threats
Robert M. Stein

March 1, 2017

The Defense Science Board (DSB) study reviewed current and future ballistic and cruise missile threats and assessed the implications to the survivability of critical U.S. forward-based war-fighting assets. The assessment was based on a review of current capabilities, as well as potential countermeasures adversaries might take. In response to shortfalls uncovered, short and long-term responses were proposed and prioritized, paying particular attention to the relative cost-effectiveness of each option. Looking broadly at the problem, the DSB study considered not only improved missile defenses but also options for long range strike, improved surveillance sensing, and alternate ways to accomplish missions with lower vulnerability to adversary missile attack. A wide range of organizations, including OUSD(AT&L), OUSD(P), SCO, CAPE, DARPA, the Joint Staff, MDA, JIAMDO, the IC, PACOM, EUCOM, STRATCOM, the Services, FFRDCs and Industry were involved. In this overview the task force’s solutions to address the growing problem of maintaining critical, forward-based asset functionality against the growing threat of cruise and ballistic missiles will be presented. A three-pronged strategy was recommended, based on a combination of offensive and defensive measures. In addition, two more issues were uncovered: how U.S. critical assets are defined; and the Department's ability to conduct cross-Service and crossmodality cost-effectiveness analyses. Recommendations were provided on both.

Robert Stein is a private consultant to the US government and the defense industry. Prior to his retirement in June 2000, he was a board-elected Vice President and Officer of the Raytheon Company and managed Raytheon’s Advanced Systems Office. He is currently a member of the Defense Science Board and was awarded the 2014 Eugene Fubini Award by the Secretary of Defense in recognition of his years of outstanding scientific contributions to the DoD. As a member of the Defense Science Board, Mr. Stein has served on or co-chaired more than 25 DSB Summer Studies and task forces dating back to 1990.