New Pentagon budget stresses missile defense
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, February 11, 2000
WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon has released a $291 billion defense budget
for fiscal year 2001 that contains significant increases for missile
defense.
Defense Secretary William Cohen said the budget request is in line with
a project to rebuild the U.S. military. "The foundation is laid, blueprints
are agreed upon, and key building blocks are in place," he said.
The budget includes $60 billion for procurement in fiscal 2001,
including the F-22 fighter. Officials said the budget includes sufficient
national missile defense funding to for initial deployment.
A senior U.S. defense official said the budget plans for three major
contingencies in southwest Asia "We continue to run operations at a high
level in Southern and Northern Watch against Saddam Hussein, and that is
costing on the order of $1.1 billion a year," he said.
The budget calls for the start of full-rate production in 2001 on such
major programs as the CH-60 helicopter for both navy and army, the Apache
Longbow and the B-2 bomber.
The budget adds $2.3 billion to anti-missile defense that would include
100 missiles and radar upgrades. The THAAD program is designed to deliver
the first unit by 2008. A THAAD system for the navy is expected in 2010.
The Airborne Laser program is behind schedule, the Pentagon said. The
senior official said the first test of the ABL will be in 2005, two years
behind schedule.
Friday, February 11, 2000
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