INDOPACOM chief urges Congress to boost funding

US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) called for a sizeable funding increase by 2027 in a report submitted to Congress on 1 March.

The report from ADM Philip Davidson, head of INDOPACOM, described a need for $4.6 billion in FY2022 and $27 billion in total between then and 2027.

Davidson described a need for investment in new missiles and air defence equipment — as well as radar systems, supply depots and testing ranges — as the Chinese threat remains.

In particular, the INDOPACOM report argued for $1.6 billion to construct an integrated air defence capability in Guam. This would connect with  a $200 million HF radar system in nearby Pulau and a network of space-based radars costing $2.3 billion.

The US is already seeking to install Aegis Ashore on Guam by 2026; and on 25 February the DoD announced a $41.94 million contract to the Granite-Obayashi JV for construction of a  ‘standoff weapons complex’ at Joint Region Marianas-Andersen Air Force Base on the island. 

This may tally with Davidson’s call for precision-strike weapons capable of striking targets more than 500km away.

The JV will build an ‘adequately sized and configured missile maintenance and assembly complex for loading, unloading, transferring, storing, testing and preparing missiles [and pre-loaded common strategic rotary launchers] for operational use’, the DoD added. 

This new facility will be completed by March 2023.

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