Restoring our eroding edge when it comes to military technology won\u2019t be easy or cheap. As Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has emphasized, the United States must invest in \u201cinnovative concept development, advanced technology and new capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One smart investment that meets these criteria within the missile defense arena is the Next Generation Interceptor, or NGI, for which the Pentagon intends to award first contracts<\/a> in the next few months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The stringent briefing and notification requirements for NGI included in the language of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act<\/a> reflect the importance that Congress ascribes<\/a> to this program. NGI makes a distinct break with past efforts on homeland missile defense by favoring long-term engineering rigor over short-term, off-the-shelf solutions. It also prioritizes capability over capacity to develop a truly advanced interceptor.<\/p>\n\n\n\t