INDOPACOM chief urges Congress to boost funding
Some $27 billion is needed from 2022 to 2027, according to a new report from Indo-Pacific Command.
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.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
More from Defence Notes
-
![Ukraine turns legacy Kongsberg land turrets into semi-autonomous USV weapons]()
Ukraine turns legacy Kongsberg land turrets into semi-autonomous USV weapons
The company told Shephard that Ukraine is operating modified Protector weapon stations originally supplied for armoured vehicles, with human operators authorising engagements from hundreds of kilometres away.
-
![UK urged to prioritise sea, air and space over heavy armour]()
UK urged to prioritise sea, air and space over heavy armour
A report from the Council on Geostrategy argues the UK should move away from a traditional balanced force and shift investment to naval, air and space capabilities, backed by a larger fleet of attack submarines and deeper AUKUS integration.
-
![Thales: deployment speed to determine winners in ‘production versus production’ era]()
Thales: deployment speed to determine winners in ‘production versus production’ era
At its technology summit in London, attended by Shephard, Thales UK examined the importance of speed to delivery, the growing focus on cross-domain capabilities and how procurement reform could be crucial for future battlefield advantage.
-
![Orchestrating operational readiness across every defence domain]()
Orchestrating operational readiness across every defence domain
Are all systems ready for the next mission? Have upgrades been applied? Are all assets aligned to deploy together, on time and fully prepared? In modern defence operations, readiness is no longer measured platform by platform. It is measured by how well people, assets, data and decisions move together — across land, sea and air.
