New Pentagon budget stresses missile defense

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.