“Our goal is simple, to ensure that we can detect and destroy any missile launched against the United States anywhere, anytime, anyplace,” said Trump.
U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing for expanded missile defense in the wake of the Missile Defense Review conducted by the Pentagon.
The review especially focused on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
With China and Russia working on hypersonic missiles designed to evade and overwhelm existing missile defense systems, the US is having to evolve to meet the growing threat.
“The United States will adjust its position to defend against any missile strikes to include cruise and hypersonic,” said Trump.
Among the changes being proposed by the Trump Administration in the upcoming Pentagon budget are space-based sensors. Additionally, there will be a study of putting missile interceptors in space. Space-based interceptors would greatly enhance the time-window for taking out missiles.
The head of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency has previously warned the U.S. Congress about the threat from hypersonic missiles:
“Developments in hypersonic propulsion will revolutionize warfare by providing the ability to strike targets more quickly, at greater distances, and with greater firepower,” Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, told Congress last year. “China is also developing increasingly sophisticated ballistic missile warheads and hypersonic glide vehicles in an attempt to counter ballistic missile defense systems.”
Some of Trump’s remarks can be watched below:
Meanwhile, Canada has zero missile defense whatsoever.
Spencer Fernando
Photo – YouTube
