Draft US Bipartisan Resolution Backs Upgrades To ICBM Force - Senator

Faizan Hashmi Published January 19, 2019 | 01:45 AM

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th January, 2019) A bipartisan resolution presented to the US Senate this week supports an expensive, wide-ranging program to modernize the country's Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) force, Senator John Hoeven said in a news release on Friday.

"Hoeven this week introduced a bipartisan resolution supporting the modernization and maintenance of the nation's Intercontinental Ballistic Missile fleet," the release stated. "The resolution emphasizes the vital role of the US nuclear forces in maintaining national security."

Weakening one leg of the nuclear triad undermined the credibility of the entire deterrent, the release said.

"Much of our missile fleet is operating well beyond its intended service life ... our adversaries, including Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, continue to pursue their nuclear ambitions, whether it's to develop more advanced capabilities or obtain their first nuclear weapon," Hoeven said.

In fall 2018, Congress approved funding of nearly $665 million for the Long Range Stand Off (LRSO) missile, $655 million to extend the life of the W80 warhead and nearly $540 million to sustain the existing fleet of (ICBMs), the release said.