US MDA Seeks Funds for Defensive Systems

The US Missile Defense Agency has released its fiscal 2012 budget, requesting $8.6bn for homeland and regional defence systems, Navy Rear Admiral Randall M Hendrickson said.

“The 2012 budget is predicated on, and assumes, the eventual approval of [fiscal] 2011’s requested levels of $8.41bn,” he added.

The requested budget, if approved, will be used to pay for the ground-based midcourse defence system and two interceptor systems against short, medium and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

The agency’s homeland projects include purchase of six ground-based interceptors, 14 missile-launching silos and a new east coast communications terminal.

The regional defence plans 68 terminal high-altitude arda Defence interceptors, six launchers, a tactical station group and purchase of 46 standard sea-based interceptors.

The projects that will complete the third and fourth phases include the robust intermediate-range ballistic missile defense, early intercept and regional intercontinental ballistic missile defence and precision tracking space system satellite.