Pentagon officials and former First Lady Nancy Reagan will formally dedicate facilities for the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., in honor of former President Ronald Reagan. According to the Lompoc (Calif.) Record, USAF Lt. Gen. Henry Obering, Missile Defense Agency Director, announced the plan, saying it would honor Reagan for his commitment to advancing missile defense technology. Vandenberg is slated to be the site for four missile interceptors, the first of which MDA installed in December 2004.
While the Pentagon has signaled its intent to scale technology, field new systems faster, and work more with nontraditional vendors, a new report identifies persistent manufacturing capacity, resourcing, workforce, and modernization challenges that could hinder its ability to deliver on those goals.