March 23, 2004 :: Reuters :: News
In addition to the land-based interceptors at Fort Greeley, Alaska, the United States will also be deploying an Aegis cruiser as part of the missile defense deployment scheduled to take place by September 30, according to Gordon England, Secretary of the Navy, speaking in commemoration of the 21st anniversary of Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI).
The announcement comes as good news, indicating that deployment is on schedule, and that the land-based system will be supplemented and expanded.
According to the account by Inside Missile Defense, however, Secretary England repeatedly downplayed the Navy’s role as a “leader” in the development of a ballistic missile shield: “To some extent, I think we are trying to be a follower. We are trying not to be out front on this,” remarked England.
The Navy Secretary’s insistence on the lesser role of the Navy in missile defense could be attributed to the difficult issue of the program’s costs: “you will not find us looking for money in Congress for our programs,” England said. Rather, a cooperative approach with the Missile Defense Agency would be the more appropriate route for the Navy, according to England.
The full text of Secretary England’s remarks are included below. (Article)
» Text of Secretary England’s remarks on missile defense
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» Sec. England outlines plan through 2006
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