{"id":24435,"date":"2020-01-31T13:00:11","date_gmt":"2020-01-31T13:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/01\/31\/the-drive-to-advance-missile-defense-is-there-but-there-must-be-funding\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:04:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:04:32","slug":"the-drive-to-advance-missile-defense-is-there-but-there-must-be-funding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2020\/01\/31\/the-drive-to-advance-missile-defense-is-there-but-there-must-be-funding\/","title":{"rendered":"The drive to advance missile defense is there, but there must be funding"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Over the past five years, missile threats have evolved far more rapidly than conventional wisdom had predicted. Best known is North Korea\u2019s accelerated development<\/a> and testing of sophisticated, road-mobile ballistic missiles. But the U.S. National Defense Strategy requires renewed focus on greater powers. China has adopted an anti-access strategy consisting of new offensive missiles, operational tactics and fortifications in the South China Sea. Russia, too, has developed highly maneuverable hypersonic missiles specifically designed to defeat today\u2019s defenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grappling with these sobering realities demands change. The 2019 Missile Defense Review called for a comprehensive approach to countering regional missiles of all kinds and from whatever source, as well as the increasingly complex intercontinental ballistic missiles from rogue states. But programs and budgets have not yet aligned with the policy. The upcoming defense budget submission presents an important opportunity to address these new and complex challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Missile Defense Agency\u2019s current top three goals are sustaining the existing force, increasing capacity and capability, and addressing more advanced threats. The first two are necessary but insufficient. The third goal must be elevated to adapt U.S. missile defense efforts to the geopolitical and technological realities of our time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the last decade, less than 2 percent of MDA\u2019s annual funding has been dedicated to developing advanced technology, during which time our adversaries have begun outpacing us. As President Donald Trump said last January<\/a>, we \u201ccannot simply build more of the same, or make incremental improvements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t