Reference News Network, November 30 - According to Reuters, November 21, multiple sources told reporters that the US President Trump's "Groundbreaker" missile defense plan is facing serious delays due to a 43-day government shutdown, and the first $2.5 billion in funding allocated this summer still lacks a clear usage plan.

Government shutdown affects progress

According to three industry sources and one government official, the government shutdown has delayed hiring and prevented key personnel responsible for approving and signing contracts from functioning normally.

More importantly, according to two government sources, one congressional source, and two industry executives, the nearly $2.5 billion in special funds allocated for "Groundbreaker" in this summer's budget coordination plan has not yet been transformed into an expenditure plan specifying how the funds will be distributed.

These setbacks could threaten Trump's commitment. The "Groundbreaker" plan, announced on the seventh day of the new administration, will have a total investment of $175 billion and is expected to be completed by 2028 at the latest, to protect the US mainland.

Reporters interviewed more than a dozen sources from the US government, the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, and the defense industry, outlining the obstacles faced by the "Groundbreaker," a signature defense priority of Trump.

According to the appropriation bill, the spending plan for the "Groundbreaker" program should have been submitted to Congress by the end of August. Two sources on Capitol Hill said that the spending plan will now be submitted by the Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Bunch in December.

Four industry executives who are planning to bid said such delays could lead to increased costs.

A White House spokesperson said: "The 'Groundbreaker' is a long-term project led by a president with a long-term vision. It is no surprise that building such a system requires hard work, and everyone is working together to bring next-generation technology to life."

A Pentagon spokesperson said that the Pentagon is closely guarding the progress of the "Groundbreaker."

Bunch and General Michael Gertlein, the head of the "Groundbreaker" program, refused to comment.

Plan structure remains undecided

The Pentagon said that Gertlein submitted the implementation plan before the deadline in mid-November, and the plan is under review. According to this blueprint, the Pentagon plans to launch enterprise contract bids to test and build satellites, interceptors, ground stations, and network infrastructure.

However, a government source revealed that the plan architecture submitted in September is still subject to change and needs several weeks to finalize.

An American official and three industry executives noted that without a final structure, implementation plan, and approved expenditure plan, Gertlein cannot initiate contract bidding, which means the "Groundbreaker" program cannot move from the planning phase to the rapid implementation phase in practice.

Various delays have caused industry concerns that the "Groundbreaker" program may require more budget and time. In September, Todd Harrison, a senior researcher at the American Enterprise Institute, estimated that building a missile defense system with full deterrent capabilities would require $360 billion over 20 years.

Gertlein is urgently staffing the "Groundbreaker" office at the Pentagon, but the internal staff of 30 people has not been fully filled yet. A government official and three industry executives familiar with the "Groundbreaker" program said that the program also lost an important technical director from the US Space Command, who was responsible for architectural issues.

High costs hinder bids

However, the challenges facing the "Groundbreaker" program go beyond bureaucratic delays. Multiple defense industry sources said that the upfront costs required to develop space-based interceptors deter potential contractors. Space-based interceptors are a satellite network, where missiles carried by satellites can intercept threats during the phase from launch to impact.

A senior executive at a leading contractor told the reporter that the company is unlikely to participate in the interceptor bidding because the bidding costs over several years are too high, and the next administration may abandon the "Groundbreaker" program.

According to documents obtained by Reuters, contractors were required to develop four types of interceptors: two for different altitudes during the boost phase, one for mid-course flight, and the last one for faster hypersonic missiles.

The US government envisions up to five companies forming bidding groups to bid for different types of interceptors.

The "Groundbreaker" has also achieved some progress. Two industry sources and two government officials said that the Pentagon is gradually integrating the warning systems of various government intelligence agencies. These systems aim to prevent ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, and advanced cruise missiles.

These warning systems can infiltrate enemy systems, collect satellite and ground intelligence data, and transmit them in real-time to the "Groundbreaker" system, which will greatly enhance the missile interception preparedness. (Translated by Liu Ziyan)

"Groundbreaker" anti-missile system illustration (AP)

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7578402092587532863/

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