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Letter from Peter R. Orszag, Director Congressional Budget office to Ellen Tauscher re: cost of the Missile Defense Agency's and Air Force's plans for developing, fielding, and operating a fleet of airborne lasers (ABL) as part of the ballistic missile defense system 1 (May 2007)

handle is hein.congrec/cbo9877 and id is 1 raw text is: CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE Peter R. Orszag, Director U.S. Congress Washington, DC 20515 May 9, 2007 Honorable Ellen 0. Tauscher Chairman Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Committee on Armed Services U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Madam Chairman: In response to your request of April 20, 2007, the Congressional Budget Office has completed a preliminary assessment of the cost of the Missile Defense Agency's and Air Force's plans for developing, fielding, and operating a fleet of airborne lasers (ABL) as part of the ballistic missile defense system. CBO estimates that appropriations of $24 billion to $36 billion (in 2008 dollars) would be needed to complete development of the ABL system, purchase the aircraft, and operate them for 20 years. The current ABL design consists of a megawatt-class chemical laser installed aboard a highly modified Boeing 747 aircraft. The ABL would be able to detect, track, and engage hostile ballistic missiles during their boost-phase-the initial period of flight before a missile's rocket motors exhaust their fuel. The first prototype ABL, which has been in development since 1996, is nearing completion, and the first attempt to shoot down a ballistic missile is planned for the latter half of 2009. Development and testing of a second prototype is planned for 2009-2018. Under current plans, an additional seven aircraft would be purchased for operational use. If you would like further details, we would be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Ray Hall, who can be reached at (202) 226-8841. Sincerely, Peter R. Orszag cc: Honorable Terry Everett Ranking Member

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