Support builds for establishing an East Coast Missile Defense System at Fort Drum: Rep. Stefanik

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Additional support has been anchored for an East Coast missile defense site to be established at Fort Drum.

This development is according to North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21). “I have led this effort, as the representative from Fort Drum for many years, and because of the bipartisan work on this committee, as well as our work with MDA and DoD broadly,” Stefanik iterated.

“We are continuing to move this project forward. We know how important it is for national security, our military, and our missile defense.”

Stefanik, a senior member of the House Armed Serves Committee, secured a public commitment from Vice Admiral Jon Hill, the Director of the Missile Defense Agency, to develop a third missile defense site on the East Coast at Fort Drum during her questioning at this week’s Strategic Forces Subcommittee Hearing.

Stefanik played a key role in 2019 in Fort Drum’s designation as a preferred site for an East Coast missile defense system.

“When it comes to defense, geography is very meaningful and our ability to expand the battle space for something like a next generation interceptor, that is exactly what that location does and what it does provide,” Hill said, expressing his support for the Fort Drum location.

 “We often talk about shoot, assess, and sheet – that means getting a shot in early, so if you’re geographically dispersed and you have a third site, you have an ability to engage early and engage again after you’ve assessed whether or not you’ve hit the first time.”

For now, Congress has yet to approve what would be required cost wise if such a defense system would be constructed in the North Country.

Image via the office of North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.