The NORAD Commander expresses extreme concern about the U.S. missile defense capacity in a recent meeting of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
In the meeting, the Commander of the U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), General Glen D. VanHerck explained his issue about the nation’s capacity to defend itself against a nuclear missile attack from a rogue threat, such as North Korea, in the coming decade. VanHerck said that reducing the budget for the next generation interceptor (NGI) program – a replacement for existing ground-based interceptor technology – could weaken the capability of America’s homeland missile defense system.
U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska posed the question in the committee hearing following press reports that the Biden Administration’s Department of Defense is considering cutting the funding for the next generation interceptor program.
Sen. Sullivan played a part in securing $200 million for the development of the NGI program and $250 million for a service life extension program for the ground-based interceptors at Fort Greely. Also, in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, Sen. Sullivan included a provision mandating the Department of Dense to invest in an interim midcourse defense system by 2026 before the NGI program, which isn’t expected to be completed till at least 2030.