Strategic Defense Strategic Defense InitiativeInitiative

Team GTeam G Shane MurrayShane Murray Leah MatthewsLeah Matthews Shaun MahoneyShaun Mahoney Bill PriceBill Price Patrick QuastPatrick Quast

Strategic Defense Strategic Defense InitiativeInitiativeConcept-History-ScopeConcept-History-ScopeBy: Shane MurrayBy: Shane Murray

ConceptConcept

Destroy intercontinental ballistic missiles bound Destroy intercontinental ballistic missiles bound for United States territoryfor United States territory

Interceptor Missiles/LasersInterceptor Missiles/Lasers Ground and Spaced Based WeaponsGround and Spaced Based Weapons

Missiles based from landMissiles based from land Lasers on satellites orbiting over United StatesLasers on satellites orbiting over United States

““Like hitting a bullet with a bullet”Like hitting a bullet with a bullet” Missiles traveled nearly 16,000 mphMissiles traveled nearly 16,000 mph

UnrealisticUnrealistic

HistoryHistory Cold War Nuclear Cold War Nuclear

Arms RaceArms Race USSR created need USSR created need

for a national defense for a national defense system.system.

1983 President 1983 President Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan proposed SDI planproposed SDI plan

In direct violation of In direct violation of 1972 Anti-ballistic 1972 Anti-ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM)Missile Treaty (ABM)

ScopeScope SDI project re-routed as National Missile SDI project re-routed as National Missile

Defense (NMD)Defense (NMD) Battlefield sized SDIBattlefield sized SDI

Destroy missiles on smaller scale over a specific Destroy missiles on smaller scale over a specific battlefieldbattlefield Iraqi SCUD missileIraqi SCUD missile

NMD becomes heavily funded with nuclear NMD becomes heavily funded with nuclear proliferation at a new highproliferation at a new high Korea, Iraq, Syria and Libya all obtain nuclear armsKorea, Iraq, Syria and Libya all obtain nuclear arms

Sensor systemsSensor systems ex) Radars: they perform signal processing ex) Radars: they perform signal processing

on data perceived by the sensoron data perceived by the sensor Imaging radarImaging radar

A single computer incorporated into the radar A single computer incorporated into the radar would perform the processing, storage, and would perform the processing, storage, and analysisanalysis

InterceptorInterceptor Can locate and destroy missiles on their ownCan locate and destroy missiles on their own Would provide continuous world-wide coverage Would provide continuous world-wide coverage

against limited or accidental ballistic missile against limited or accidental ballistic missile strikes.strikes.

Using already produced, Using already produced, commercial computers could be commercial computers could be cheaper and simpler if software was cheaper and simpler if software was just created for the computersjust created for the computers More reliable and efficient, less More reliable and efficient, less

expensiveexpensive Software development would not have Software development would not have

to wait for the hardware, in case to wait for the hardware, in case schedules are not met.schedules are not met.

Computers can also help with communication Computers can also help with communication among the battle managers, sensors, and among the battle managers, sensors, and weaponsweapons Space to spaceSpace to space Space to groundSpace to ground Ground to spaceGround to space Info transmitted would be digitally encodedInfo transmitted would be digitally encoded Info is transmitted10^7 bits/secondInfo is transmitted10^7 bits/second Examples of topics of communicationExamples of topics of communication

Location of targets and weaponsLocation of targets and weapons Status of resourcesStatus of resources Decisions that have been madeDecisions that have been made

Can predict the behavior of different system Can predict the behavior of different system designsdesigns

To anticipate threats against the systemTo anticipate threats against the system To model different ways in which the system will To model different ways in which the system will

workwork Provide realistic environment in which the Provide realistic environment in which the

system might worksystem might work To test the functioning of the system as a whole, To test the functioning of the system as a whole,

both before and after deploymentboth before and after deployment Example:Example:

A computer that would be used in an aircraft can be A computer that would be used in an aircraft can be tested for durability during flighttested for durability during flight

Pros And Cons Of Pros And Cons Of Strategic Strategic Defensive InitiativeDefensive Initiative

By Shaun MahoneyBy Shaun Mahoney

ProsPros Protection from a Nuclear AttackProtection from a Nuclear Attack Feasible TechnologyFeasible Technology Now AffordableNow Affordable Very High Protection Rate Of Very High Protection Rate Of

Oncoming AttacksOncoming Attacks More JobsMore Jobs SafetySafety

ConsCons Little Success or AccuracyLittle Success or Accuracy RadiationRadiation Costs For Program Could Be Used Costs For Program Could Be Used

For Other Expenses For The CountryFor Other Expenses For The Country Might Never Be UsedMight Never Be Used

Former U.S. President Ronald Former U.S. President Ronald ReaganReagan

Introduced the program in Introduced the program in 1980’s at the height of the 1980’s at the height of the Cold WarCold War

Believed that such a program Believed that such a program was necessary to defend our was necessary to defend our country against incoming country against incoming attacks by hostile nations attacks by hostile nations (particularly the Soviet Union)(particularly the Soviet Union)

Creator and SupporterCreator and Supporter

Current SupporterCurrent Supporter President George W. BushPresident George W. Bush The S.D.I program was a major part The S.D.I program was a major part

of his 2000 Presidential campaignof his 2000 Presidential campaign Reintroduced the program after Reintroduced the program after

Former President Clinton demoted Former President Clinton demoted it during his presidencyit during his presidency

Sources within the White House Sources within the White House confirm that the Bush confirm that the Bush administration has conducted administration has conducted secret research that could produce secret research that could produce a powerful ground-base laser a powerful ground-base laser meant to shatter enemy satellitesmeant to shatter enemy satellites

Miscellaneous SupportMiscellaneous Support The United States State The United States State

Department- One official Department- One official quoted in 2006 as saying “Our quoted in 2006 as saying “Our government will continue to government will continue to consider possible role that consider possible role that space-related weapons may space-related weapons may play in protecting our assets.”play in protecting our assets.”

The Pentagon- Announced the The Pentagon- Announced the results of three tests of missile results of three tests of missile interceptors over the Pacific interceptors over the Pacific Ocean, making clear that they Ocean, making clear that they are considering weapons of are considering weapons of S.D.I. natureS.D.I. nature

Current and Future SupportCurrent and Future Support Poll of Mother’s in four states (Ohio, Poll of Mother’s in four states (Ohio,

Pennsylvania, Florida, and Wisconsin) Pennsylvania, Florida, and Wisconsin) found that they too support a missile found that they too support a missile defense systemdefense system

Participant's believed that a missile Participant's believed that a missile defense system would make them feel defense system would make them feel safer and would like one developed as safer and would like one developed as soon as possiblesoon as possible

However, this poll was conducted by the However, this poll was conducted by the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA) Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA)

Opponents of SDIOpponents of SDI

Main OpponentsMain Opponents CongressCongress Press/MediaPress/Media American PublicAmerican Public Military ContractorsMilitary Contractors

Congress-Main ReasonsCongress-Main Reasons Potential for Public EmbarrassmentPotential for Public Embarrassment Huge BillHuge Bill Need for expanded taxesNeed for expanded taxes Upset Tax PayersUpset Tax Payers

Defense ContractorsDefense Contractors The Holy Grail of Defense ContractsThe Holy Grail of Defense Contracts

Too expensive Too expensive Too complicatedToo complicated Just out of reach in terms of a finished Just out of reach in terms of a finished

productproduct

American PublicAmerican Public Fear of if something went wrong, Fear of if something went wrong,

there would be no back upthere would be no back up Soviet HackingSoviet Hacking Against raised taxesAgainst raised taxes