The Pentagon’s move to shift $416 million into missile defense will help jumpstart the construction of new interceptors in Alaska to counter North Korea, Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, said Friday.
The senator said $81 million of the repurposed money will help fund the increase from 44 to 64 ground-based missile interceptors at Fort Greely, one of two sites on the West Coast prepared to shoot down an attack from North Korea. Another $47 million will be used on silos.
The Pentagon quietly filed a request with Congress to shift the money from other areas of its budget in September, and both Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis teased the move in congressional testimony. – READ MORE
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