Guam firmly in Missile Defense Agency plans

Guam firmly in Missile Defense Agency plans
While the U.S. Missile Defense Agency awaits approval for the $9.6 billion it’s seeking in the fiscal 2023 budget, it is moving ahead with plans for Guam.
The agency is requesting $539 million to continue to design and develop multiple-land based radar systems, procure weapon system components and initiate military construction planning and design activities for the defense of Guam, according to budget documents.

A PAC-2 Patriot interceptor missile is launched at a Kratos Defense Firejet cruise missile surrogate target during the Patriot live-fire exercise as part of Valiant Shield 22. Air defenders from Charlie Battery, 1-1 Air Defense Artillery Battalion successfully intercepted the target at approximately 10:00 a.m. local time. The target traveled out to sea on a southeast track, then executed a 180-degree turn and flew towards the airport from the southeast. At this point, two PAC-2 Patriot interceptor missiles engaged the target in salvo mode, with the second Patriot launching three seconds after the first. The interceptor missiles engaged the target approximately 35km off the coast of Palau at an altitude of 10,000 feet and speed of 350 knots; the first interceptor successfully destroyed the target, and the second interceptor adjusted course to target the largest piece of debris from the first intercept. Photo by Maj. Nicholas Chopp 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command

Company gets MilCon adjustment payment
Black Construction Corp. was awarded an $11 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of a live-fire training range complex at Northwest Field at Andersen Air Force Base, according to an Aug. 10 release from the U.S. Department of Defense.

This modification increases the total cumulative value of the contract to $97.82 million and “settles a request for equitable adjustment for differing site conditions that were encountered during the performance of work,” the release said. The range was completed in July 2022 and the award was made by the Officer-in-Charge of Construction at Marine Corps Marianas.

Birds head for Guam
The Guam Department of Agriculture Animal Health Division “will allow live poultry imports with modified entry requirements from [the] mainland United States due to highly pathogenic avian influenza,” the department said in an Aug. 11 release.

While Avian flu continues to be a concern in the U.S. mainland, “after consulting with experts from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the recommendation is to cautiously open for imports, but to require avian influenza testing within three days of travel,” the department said. Poultry imports are being allowed due to high poultry mortality numbers as a result of Typhoon Mawar, the department said.

Recent graduations include 60 graduates of the Guam Unique Merchandise and Art 16-week courses, held in partnership with the Pacific Islands Small Business Development Center; 13 individuals of Guam Community College’s Childcare Bootcamp; four Palau Community College students, under the PCC’s Information Technology program, who completed their final requisites through internships at the Palau International Coral Reef Center. and the University of Guam’s Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps.

Guam Community College is currently hosting the Cabras Marine Corp. Ship Repair Apprenticeship Boot Camp. mbj

Guam firmly in Missile Defense Agency plans