IMO, this will be a mistake if it goes through -- SBR seems
like a system well worth having, though not cheap. The $30G
figure given below is a number that, AFAIK, hasn't come up
before; it's about what FIA is expected to cost, maybe a
little more. Also, what technologies are currently lacking
for SBR?


House Defense Panel Slashes Space Based Radar
By JEREMY SINGER
Space News Staff Writer
10 June 2004
[EXCERPTS]

WASHINGTON: A key congressional spending panel has
recommended slashing the Pentagon's 2005 budget request for
the Space Based Radar in a bid to knock the program off the
acquisition track.

In marking up its version of the 2005 defense spending bill June
10, the House Appropriations Defense subcommittee reduced the
$327 million Space Based Radar funding request to $75 million,
according to a press release issued by the full committee.
The Space Based Radar, designed to track moving ground targets
worldwide on a continuous basis, is expected to cost nearly
$30 billion...

The panel's proposed 2005 bill is scheduled to be reviewed by
the full House Appropriations Committee June 16. The Senate
Appropriations defense subcommittee has yet to mark up its
version of the Pentagon spending bill.

The full House of Representatives recently approved a 2005
defense authorization bill that fully funds the Space Based
Radar. The Senate also fully funded the program in a draft
version of its defense authorization bill, which has yet to
come up for a vote by a full chamber.

------------------

http://appropriations.house.gov/inde...l ease_id=388

HOUSE DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE APPROVES FISCAL
YEAR 2005 DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL
June 10th, 2004
[EXCERPT]

Space Programs.-- The Subcommittee bill provides $560 million
for the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS-High), an increase
of $91 million over the request; and provides $520 million for
Enhanced Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) procurement.
Development funding for the Advanced Wideband System (also
known as Transformational Satellite Communications) and Mobile
User Objective System programs are reduced due to technical
maturity and the need for risk reduction. Funding for the
Space-Based Radar program is reduced to $75 million, with
direction to return this effort back to the technology
development phase.