On October 25, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), part of the Department of Defense, announced in an environmental impact statement draft that it has narrowed its plans for a multi-billion dollar missile defense system in Guam from 22 to 16 potential deployment sites after considering various factors.
According to a Reuters report, the MDA’s initiative, known as the Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense (EIAMD) program, aims to provide “360-degree” protection for Guam against a wide array of missile threats and aerial attacks.
The program includes plans to integrate Raytheon’s Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) and Standard Missile-3 Block IIA (SM-3 Block IIA) interceptors, as well as Lockheed Martin’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, along with the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile defense system co-produced by the two companies over the next decade.
The environmental impact study for EIAMD commenced last year. Voice of America (VOA) quoted a report from the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, detailing that the initial proposal included 22 locations, with 21 on Department of Defense property and one on private land.
However, after a public comments period over the summer and a review addressing environmental impacts, operational constraints, and cost-effectiveness, the proposed locations were reduced to 16.
The report did not specify the reasons behind the reduction in deployment sites. The selected 16 locations will be situated within Guam’s three major military installations: eight at Naval Base Guam, six at Andersen Air Force Base, and two at Camp Blaz, the Marine Corps base.
The statement indicated that a public meeting is scheduled for next month in Guam to discuss the MDA’s report from October 25. Additionally, the report will be open for public review and comments until January 8 of next year.
The EIAMD program is deemed vital for the United States and its Indo-Pacific allies, as it offers a logistical hub well outside the U.S. mainland. Guam’s proximity to China is significantly closer compared to Hawaii.
Peter Layton, a defense and aviation expert at Griffith Asia Institute, emphasized that Guam “is a forward operating base for long-range bombers and a port for naval vessels.” He also noted, “Certainly, some locations in Japan and the Philippines are closer to China… but they are also exposed to greater risk.”
