The U.S. Department of Defense has begun construction of a missile defense test base in Alaska at a cost of $46 billion. The base is located at Fort Greely, south of Fairbanks, and includes six underground silos where interceptor missiles will be deployed to intercept enemy incoming missiles. This base is the first of its kind to be used exclusively for testing missile defense systems. The Pentagon hopes the base will be ready by 2004. Paul Wolfowitz, Deputy Secretary of Defense, wrote in an article published in the Wall Street Journal on Friday that missile defense will allow the U.S. to protect itself in emergencies and crises for the first time. The construction of the missile test base began two days after the U.S. officially withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which was referred to as a relic of the Cold War.
Construction of Missile Defense Test Base in Alaska Begins - 2002-06-17
The U.S. has initiated the construction of a $46 billion missile defense test base in Alaska, aimed at enhancing its missile defense capabilities. This development follows the U.S. withdrawal from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and is seen as a significant step in U.S. military strategy. The base is expected to be operational by 2004.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The U.S. has started building a missile defense test base in Alaska, which will feature underground silos for interceptor missiles. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance U.S. missile defense capabilities following the withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
- The construction cost is estimated at $46 billion.
- The base is expected to be operational by 2004.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The U.S. missile defense program aims to protect against ballistic missile threats, a concern heightened after the Cold War and recent geopolitical tensions.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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