NationNews
  • e-paper
    • e-paper
    • e-magazines
  • News
  • Regional
  • Elections
  • Sports
  • World
  • Entertainment
  • classifieds
  • Multimedia
    • Multimedia
    • Podcasts
  • all sections
    • Business
    • Life Style
    • Family Notices
    • Commentary
    • Ticketnation
    • RSS
    • e-publications
    • Politics
    • Contact US
    • Smart Homes
    • Workbook
    • Feature: Owen S Arthur
  • Print Subscription
    • e-paper
      • e-paper
      • e-magazines
    • News
    • Regional
    • Elections
    • Sports
    • World
    • Entertainment
    • classifieds
    • Multimedia
      • Multimedia
      • Podcasts
    • all sections
      • Business
      • Life Style
      • Family Notices
      • Commentary
      • Ticketnation
      • RSS
      • e-publications
      • Politics
      • Contact US
      • Smart Homes
      • Workbook
      • Feature: Owen S Arthur
    • Print Subscription
US
News, World
 on March 15, 2013

US to beef up missile defense

Article by sherieholder 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon announced Friday it will spend $1 billion to add 14 interceptors to a West Coast-based missile defense system, responding to what it called faster-than-anticipated North Korean progress on nuclear weapons and missiles.
In announcing the decision, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said he is determined to ensure protection of the U.S. homeland and stay ahead of the North Korean missile threat. He acknowledged that the interceptors already in place to defend against potential North Korean missile launches have had poor test performances.
“We will strengthen our homeland defense, maintain our commitment to our allies and partners, and make clear to the world that the United States stands firm against aggression,” Hagel told a Pentagon news conference.
The Pentagon intends to add the 14 interceptors to 26 already in place at Fort Greely, Alaska. That will expand the system’s ability to shoot down long-range missiles in flight before they could reach U.S. territory. In addition to those at Greely, the U.S. also has four missile interceptors at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Hagel said the 14 extras should be in place by September 2017 but will not be deployed until they have been adequately tested.
James Miller, the undersecretary of defense for policy, said the project would cost about $1 billion.
Miller and Hagel said the U.S. will conduct environmental studies on three additional potential locations for interceptors in the United States, including on the East Coast, as required by Congress. Hagel said no decision on a particular site has been made, but the studies would shorten the timeline should a decision be made.
Miller said that would provide options for building an interceptor base on the East Coast or adding more interceptors in Alaska, should either approach become necessary due to further future increases in the threat from Iran and North Korea.
The threat of a missile strike from North Korea was the rationale for building the missile defense sites in Alaska and California during the administration of President George W. Bush. Technical difficulties with the interceptors slowed the pace at which they were installed at Greely and Vandenberg.
“Our policy is to stay ahead of the threat – and to continue to ensure that we are ahead of any potential future Iranian or North Korean ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) capability,” Miller said in a speech Tuesday at the Atlantic Council.
 

Comments are closed.

Cartoon
Facebook
@ Follow me
Tweets
NationNews
Site Index
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Commentary
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Regional
  • World
  • E-Paper
  • Multimedia
  • Blogs
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Commentary
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Regional
  • World
  • E-Paper
  • Multimedia
  • Blogs
Services
For information about this website or content published please contact the Webmaster or Online Editor, respectively. Regarding press releases please contact the News Room.
Subscribe
Subscribe to NationNews with our Webfeed. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
General Info
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Commentary
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Regional
  • World
  • E-Paper
  • Multimedia
  • Blogs
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Commentary
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Regional
  • World
  • E-Paper
  • Multimedia
  • Blogs
Legal
Copyright © 1997 - , Nation Publishing Co. Limited • P.O. Box 1203, Fontabelle, St. Michael, BB11000, Barbados, West Indies • All Rights Reserved No unauthorized use is permitted of content produced by NationNews.com, The Nation Newspaper or any other publication or media owned by Nation Publishing Co. Limited. Unauthorized use includes framing and direct posting of content on websites other than www.nationnews.com.