Operational testing in November 2002 will serve as the graduation exercise for the Navy Area TBMD program. Successful completion of this rigorous test event will certify the system ready for deployment, and with the delivery of the first production SM-2 Block IVA missiles identify McCampbell as the First Unit Equipped with a Navy Area TBMD capability. But, it is further recognized that the short to medium TBM threat will continue grow in complexity. This program will look at methods for pacing the threat and extending our ability to provide protection to forces ashore in blocked incremental improvements to the Area TBMD capability. War-Winning Leverage Forward deploying TBMD aboard Navy ships provides substantial political and military leverage.
Naval forces are mobile - they arrive on scene early and sustain themselves for days.
In fact, in most cases, Naval forces will be first on scene. Our experience in Desert Storm is a good indicator as to how TBMD forces are likely to arrive in theater in response to a crisis, and demonstrated the heavy demand on lift assets to flow ground-based systems into a theater. This extensive air and sea lift requirement for land-based air defenses has been the subject of discussion over the years. Naval TBMD forces provide the warfighter with an initial TBMD capability that has the ability to arrive in theater in a few days, if not already in theater and bring significant sea-based TBMD forces within a couple of weeks. The U.S. urgently needs sea-based Theater Ballistic Missile Defense.