U.S. Army,<p>
The Chief of Staff,<p>
Washington, DC, July 14, 1995.<p>
Hon. Strom Thurmond,<p>
Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.<p>
<center><pre>[Page: S11146]</pre></center>
<b>Dear Mr. Chairman:</b> The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) voted to terminate
the Corps Surface-to-Air Missile (Corps SAM) program, after the House National Security
Committee (HNSC) voted a $10 million decrement. However, the critical warfighting requirement
that Corps SAM intends to fill remains completely valid.<p>
The predominant threats to Army and Marine Corps maneuver forces are very short/short range
tactical ballistic missiles (VS/SRTBMs), cruise missiles (CMs) and unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs). Defense against these threats well forward of our forces is clearly one of the greatest
concerns facing our Commanders-in-Chief (CINCs). The Corps SAM Operational Requirements
Document (ORD) specifies countering these threats with a strategically deployable, tactically
mobile system providing 360 degree coverage. Existing/proposed system configurations (PAC-3,
THAAD, Navy Upper/Lower tier) fail to provide the required protection due to deployability and
mobility limitations, lack of 360 degree coverage, and lack of growth potential to meet these
essential requirements.<p>
This is a compelling requirement. Army and Marine Corps forces are currently at risk, and will
remain at risk with no defense against AS/SRTBMs and only limited capability against CM
attacks. We strongly feel that development actions must continue, and welcome the opportunity
to work with the Committee to demonstrate how we can leverage current capabilities in order to
meet this critical need in a rapid, cost-effective manner.<p>
Sincerely,<p>
Dennis J. Reimer,<p>
General, U.S. Army,<p>
Chief of Staff.<p>
-<p>