Aegis: Answers

The Missile Defense Agency has identified $1.4 billion in the Pentagon's six-year budget plan for the Next Generation Aegis Missile (NGAM) program.

In answers to questions submitted to MDA after a July 29 industry day with agency Director Lt. Gen. Patrick O'Reilly, which were recently posted on Federal Business Opportunities, MDA writes:

The $1.4B figure that LTG O'Reilly mentioned was referring to the funding within MDA's POM12 budget for the Product Development Phase (covering years FY12-16.) The number is a requested amount. No funds for FY-12 have been appropriated yet.

MDA anticipates contract awards for the NGAM program "in the second quarter of FY-11," the document states. When asked about the "technology maturation contact awards time line vs. the concept definition time line," MDA responds: "We intend to award additional technology maturation contracts in FY-11."

As to a question about the "funding stream," the agency answers: "The planning profile for this effort includes approximately $130 million between the years of FY11-13. The profile is notional and may change. It is roughly linear." However, the next question asks whether there is $45 million available "per year or total" for the concept definition and technology development phase, to which MDA responds: "The planning profile for this effort includes $135 million between the years of FY11-13. The profile is notional and may change."

In response to a question about the agency's focus on countering intercontinental ballistic missile threats and whether "longer-range" short-range ballistic missiles and medium-range ballistic missiles "should be in the trade space," MDA writes: "The priority is to maximize performance against ICBMs. But, the Government is also interested in the performance gain and loss trades between threat classes."

As to whether industry should "consider the inventory and consider the fact that other interceptors can handle the shorter-range threats," MDA states: "The allocation and use of a mixed missile inventory will not be part of this contract."

When asked whether the agency is looking for a "new or modified" kill vehicle, MDA responds: "The Kill vehicle configuration is part of the trade space."

MDA expects all the missile components to have "at least" a Technology Readiness Level 5 "at the start of product development," according to the document.