Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to be able to testify before your subcommittee on the missile threats to the United States and its interests. The ballistic missile remains a central element in the military arsenals of nations around the globe and almost certainly will retain this status for at least the next fifteen years. States willingly devote often scarce resources to develop or acquire ballistic missiles; build the infrastructures to sustain development and production; and actively pursue technologies, materials, and personnel on the world market to compensate for domestic shortfalls, gain expertise, and potentially shorten development timelines.