Missile Defense Obama Style

Navy's Aegis Air/Missile Defense System Teetering on Brink of Failure...




According to Navy Times, the Aegis Air Defense  System aboard the USN's Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers is showing a steadily-increasing level of failures and unsatisfactory performance.

The principal culprit appears to be the Navy's byzantine procurement and supply system dedicated to supporting Aegis, a system so arcane and convoluted that ship commanders and weapon systems officers just cannot order necessary parts and support materials.

The result is that Aegis overall cannot perform as its advocates for the BMD role hope.

This problem is exacerbated by personnel drawdowns in the Fleets as the Navy struggles to meet budget targets.  Many ships' Aegis systems are being operated by sailors struggling in assignments one and even two grades above their rank and training.  Ironically, as the Navy reduces the number of sailors at the sharp end, the number of admirals to bust their chops is increasing.  While our young men and women at sea are working the wonders they always do, the dockside Decaturs of the "Potomac Fleet" are making it harder and harder for them to do their jobs.

So when Commander-in-Chief Obama promises to send Aegis ships to provide our allies with ballistic missile defense, it might behoove them not to examine that gift too closely.  Like most things this Administration champions, it looks good, it sounds good... but it doesn't work as advertised.