US to begin putting intercept missiles in silos in June or July: official

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2004

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States plans to have a rudimentary missile defense system in operation by October and to begin putting interceptor missiles in launch silos as early as June, Pentagon officials said.

The Pentagon is seeking a 20 percent boost in funding for the program, from 7.7 billion dollars this year to 9.2 billion dollars in 2005, under the proposed budget presented to Congress on Monday.

Plans calls for deploying 20 ground-based interceptor missiles and up to 10 sea-based missiles by the end of fiscal 2005.

The Pentagon anticipates declaring the system to have an "initial operational capability" by the end of fiscal 2004 on October 1.

"Probably about June or July is when the first (interceptor missiles) will go in," said Rick...