Trump Raises $6 Billion Request for Missile Defense System, US Navy Ships Repair, Asia Strategy

The US President has requested an approval from Congress for a new wave of funding to support a missile defense system, US Navy ships repair and his new Asia strategy.

“The request includes an additional $4.0 billion to support urgent missile defeat and defense enhancements to counter the threat from North Korea, $0.7 billion to repair damage to US Navy ships, and $1.2 billion in support of my Administration's South Asia strategy, the letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives,” Paul Ryan Monday.

This request supports additional efforts to detect, defeat, and defend against any North Korean use of ballistic missiles against the United States, its deployed forces, allies, or partners.

“The request also includes costs necessary to repair damage to and restore the operational readiness of the USS John S. McCain and the USS Fitzgerald. These ships provide critical naval presence and additional ballistic missile defense capabilities in the Asia-Pacific theater. My Administration requests that the funding requested for missile defense and Navy ship repairs be designated as an emergency requirement,” the statement read.

According to a Navy cost estimate of the repairs obtained by USNI News, fixing McCain will cost about $223 million and take about a year. The Navy is preparing the ship to be transported from Singapore to Yokosuka via a heavy-lift transport.

“John S. McCain will be towed to deep water, where the heavy lift vessel will lower itself, secure the ship on a platform and then raise back up out of the water. After the process of loading the ship is complete, Treasure will transport John S. McCain to Fleet Activities Yokosuka, where the forward deployed ship will be repaired," the US 7th Fleet had said in a statement in October.

Huntington Ingalls won a $29.4 million contract for initial planning of USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) emergent repair and restoration in September this year.

This initial planning and preparation phase of availability will include a combination of restoration and modernization of USS Fitzgerald. USS Fitzgerald is planned to arrive at Ingalls Shipbuilding in December 2017 via heavy lift ship.

US Navy ship, USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) had been extensively damaged in a collision with a cargo vessel off the coast of Japan earlier this year.

The request also includes costs associated with increased US troop levels in Afghanistan in support of my Administration's South Asia strategy. The additional resources would enable DOD to deploy an additional 3,500 troops, and includes funding for urgent needs and special operations forces capabilities.