In addition, DOD is developing ballistic missile defense systems that will  use laser beams to destroy enemy missiles. Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

The Ranking Minority Member, Committee on the Budget, and the Ranking  Minority Member, Subcommittee on Military Research and Development,  Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, asked us to  review DOD's programs to develop laser weapons for missile defense to identify what laser weapons are being considered for missile defense  and the coordination among the program offices developing the  systems, determine the current status and cost of each system, and identify the technical challenges each system faces as determined by  DOD program managers and analysts and other laser system experts. Additionally, in a joint effort  with Israel, DOD is developing the THEL, which is to be used by Israel to  defend against short-range rockets. Figure 2.1  shows the ABL concept. SBL Program

The SBL, jointly funded by the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization  (BMDO) and the Air Force and managed by the Air Force, is to be capable  of detecting a missile in its boost phase, tracking the missile’s path, and  holding a concentrated laser beam on the missile until the beam’s heat  causes the missile to be destroyed. THEL Program

The THEL, funded jointly with Israel and managed by the U.S. Army, is a  ground-based laser weapon that is to be used to destroy short-range  rockets toward the end of their flights. Airborne Laser: Status, Cost, and Technical Challenges

The ABL program is currently in the program definition and risk reduction  (PDRR) acquisition phase. The Air Force estimates the life-cycle cost of the ABL at about $11 billion. Initial  operational capability of three ABLs is scheduled for 2007; full operational  capability of seven ABLs is scheduled for 2009. This schedule reflects a  1-year slip in the original PDRR schedule. Because of the complexity of the system integration task, some  experts both inside and outside of DOD have noted that the planned flight  testing schedule for the program is too dependent on successful tests and  does not allow enough time and resources to deal with potential test  failures and to prove the ABL concept. We agree with DOD’s assessment and future plans for the ABL program. Space-Based Laser: Status, Cost, and Technical Challenges

The SBL program is about a year into a $30-million study phase to define  concepts for the design, development, and deployment of an SBL proof of  concept demonstrator. According to SBL program officials, the weight  and size constraints dictated by the size and weight limitations of existing  and planned launch vehicles force the program to push the state of the art  in areas such as laser efficiency, laser brightness, and deployable optics. DOD officials told us that the design, development, and  deployment of an SBL readiness demonstrator would cost about $3 billion. Conclusions

The future of the SBL program is unknown at this time. Tactical High Energy Laser: Status, Cost, and Technical Challenges

The THEL is about 34 months into its $131.5 million 38-month development  program. However, the shoot-down testing has been  delayed 7 months due to administrative issues and technical problems with  the laser and the pointer tracker. Technical Challenges Facing the THEL Program

THEL's components have been produced. However, initial testing of the  laser has identified problems with the operation of chemical flow control  valves and with the low-power laser that is to be used in tracking the  short-range rockets. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) programs to develop laser weapons for missile defense, focusing on: (1) what laser weapons are being considered for missile defense and the coordination among the program offices developing the systems; (2) the status and cost of each system; and (3) the technical challenges each system faces as determined by DOD program managers and analysts and other laser system experts.

What GAO Found

GAO noted that: (1) DOD is developing two laser weapons--the Airborne Laser (ABL) and the Space-Based Laser (SBL)--which U.S. forces intend to use to destroy enemy ballistic missiles; (2) in a joint effort with Israel, DOD is developing a ground-based laser weapon, the Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL), which Israel will use to defend its northern cities against short-range rockets; (3) ABL is funded and managed by the Air Force, SBL is jointly funded by the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization and the Air Force, and THEL is funded jointly with Israel and managed by the Army; (4) ABL, SBL, and THEL are in varying stages of development ranging from conceptual design studies to integration and testing of system components; (5) the ABL program is in the program definition and risk reduction acquisition phase and is scheduled for full operational capability in 2009, with a total of seven ABLs; (6) this schedule reflects a 1-year delay from the original schedule; (7) the Air Force estimates the life-cycle cost of the ABL to be about $11 billion; (8) the SBL program is about a year into a $30-million study phase to define concepts for the design, development, and deployment of a proof of concept demonstrator; (9) DOD estimates that it will cost about $3 billion to develop and deploy the demonstrator; (10) the future of the SBL program is unknown, pending the outcome of a DOD assessment of the program; (11) the $131.5-million THEL Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration program is about 34 months into a 38-month program; (12) system components have been built, but system testing has been delayed from December 1998 to July 1999 due to administrative and technical problems; (13) laser experts agree that the ABL, SBL, and THEL face significant technical challenges; (14) the technical complexity of the ABL program has caused laser experts to conclude that the ABL planned flight test schedule is compressed and too dependent on the assumption that tests will be successful and therefore does not allow enough time and resources to deal with potential test failures and to prove the ABL concept; (15) if DOD ultimately decides to continue the SBL program, the size and weight limitations dictated by current and future launch capabilities will force the program to push the state of the art in laser efficiency, laser power, and deployable optics; and (16) initial testing of THEL's laser has identified problems with the operation of chemical flow control valves and with the low-power laser that is to be used in tracking short-range rockets the system is being designed to defeat.