The Missile Defense Agency of the United States has sought more than $800 million in funding since 2024 to bolster a military installation on Guam, part of the Mariana Islands. The request was reported by a major defense portal and cited by Defense News.
The proposed budget would fund the design, construction, and expansion of the base’s protection against a spectrum of threats, including ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles. Reports note that roughly half of the requested amount would be dedicated to architectural design and development efforts intended to lay a solid foundation for future defensive capabilities.
In practical terms, the plan calls for the deployment of upgraded Aegis missile defense components, alongside SM-3 IB and SM-3 IIA interceptors, according to Vice Admiral John Hill, the director of the Missile Defense Agency. While the Army plans to roll out priority defenses on Guam, it does not anticipate providing the entire funding package immediately. Instead, it will procure three LTAMDS air and missile defense radars, medium-range missile launchers, and an IFPC cruise missile strike system. The publication indicates that four AN/TPY-6 radar units are slated for deployment on the island in 2024.
Previously, reports indicated Washington’s interest in establishing a rapid response unit in Japan to help safeguard the Senkaku Islands, a dispute zone claimed by China in southwestern Japan. [Defense News]