Defense One – Before the end of the week, the Pentagon expects the Trump administration to take steps to pull out of the INF Treaty, citing Russian violations. “In early February, the United States is going to declare [it is] suspending its obligations under the INF” and announce its intention to withdraw six months later, James H. Anderson, assistant defense secretary for strategy, plans, and capabilities, told a crowd at Brookings on Wednesday. That will open the door to missiles with a range beyond 500 kilometers.
in 2017, Congress mandated that the Pentagon begin to look at the possibility of extending the range of certain conventional missiles. “We have limited our efforts strictly with research and development. We will continue along existing efforts with respect to potential systems that will be conventional in nature that could be used to increase our defensive capabilities in Europe,” Anderson said.
So the research has been conservative, so far. But Thomas Karako, a senior fellow in the International Security Program and Director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says that the demise of the INF will quickly usher in a new era of research and development. The cautious culture of acquisition will give way. The Pentagon will have a green light to, “no-kidding, be able to research and develop these types of capabilities,” he said.
