12 2 STA T .439 1 PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 41 7—O CT. 14 , 200 8(b)CONF O RMI N GA M E N D MEN T.—The he adingofsuc h sec t ion isa m ended to r ead as fo l lo w s
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‘ANN UALO T &E A S SESSMENT AND C H ARA C TERI Z ATION OF CERTAIN B ALLISTIC M ISSILE D EFENSE MAT - TERS.— ’ ’. (c) EFFECTI V E DATE.—The amendments made b y this section shall ta k e effect on October 1,20 0 8 , and shall a p ply with respect to fiscal years beginning on or after that date. SEC.23 2. IND E P ENDEN T ST U D YOFB OOST - P HA SE M ISSI L E DEFENSE. (a) S TUD Y .— N ot later than 9 0 days after the date of the enact- ment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct an independent study of concepts and systems for boost-phase missile defense. (b) ELEMENTS.— (1) CONTENT.—The study re q uired by subsection (a) shall address the following: (A) The e x tent to which boost-phase missile defense is technically feasible and practical. (B) W hether any demonstration efforts by the Depart- ment of Defense of boost-phase missile defense technology existing as of the date of the study (including the Airborne L aser and the K inetic Energy I nterceptor) ha v eahigh probability of performing a boost-phase missile defense mis- sion in an operationally effective, suitable, and survivable manner. (2) SYSTEMS TO B EE X AMINED.—The study required by sub- section (a) shall examine each of the following systems: (A) The Airborne Laser. (B) The Kinetic Energy Interceptor (land-based and sea-based options). (C) Other existing boost-phase technology demonstra- tion programs. ( 3 ) F ACTORS TO BE EVALUATED.—The study shall evaluate each system identified in paragraph (2) based on the following factors: (A) Technical capability of the system against scenarios identified in paragraph ( 4 ). (B) Operational issues, including operational effective- ness. (C) The results of key milestone tests conducted prior to preparation of the report under subsection (c). (D) Survivability. (E) Suitability. (F) Concept of operations, including basing consider- ations. ( G ) Operations and maintenance support. ( H ) Command and control considerations, including timelines for detection, decision-making, and engagement. (I) Shortfall from intercepts. ( J ) Force structure requirements. (K) Effectiveness against countermeasures. (L) Estimated cost of sustaining the system in the field. (M) R eliability, availability, and maintainability. Deadlin e .Co n tr a c t s . 10US C 243 1 note.
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