Arlington, VA, November 12, 1999 —
The Air Force Association expressed its strong opposition to a
reported Department of Defense plan to cut $258 million from
the Air Force’s promising Airborne Laser missile defense program.
AFA National President Thomas J.
McKee wrote to Secretary of Defense William Cohen, saying that
the association was "extremely troubled" by news reports
that senior officials in the Department of Defense were considering
a cut to the ABL program.
"We have followed the progress of
the ABL program since its inception," McKee wrote. "It is
one of those rare defense programs that has stayed within budget,
exceeded its technical goals, and was on time until the Congress
needlessly cut part of its funding last year."
McKee suggested that one of the issues
related to the cut was the "increasing antagonism between
proponents of the Space-Based Laser and proponents of ABL. Far
from being competitive, these two programs should be seen as
complementary, and we strongly support both."
ABL is the only boost-phase missile
defense program. Pointing to the immediate ballistic missile threat
faced by U.S. forward-deployed forces, McKee urged Cohen to do
everything in his power to keep ABL fully funded.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Stephen P. Aubin, Director of Policy and Communications
(703) 247-5850; e-mail:
saubin@afa.org
The Air Force Association is an independent, nonprofit,
civilian aerospace organization whose objective is to promote
greater understanding of the role aerospace power plays in national
defense. AFA is a grass-roots organization with a membership of
150,000. The Air Force Association was incorporated in the
District of Columbia on February 4, 1946.
