The U.S. should deploy a new anti-ship missile made by Lockheed Martin Corp. as quickly as possible to counter improved Chinese and Russian naval capabilities in Asian waters, the top U.S. Pacific commander said.
Lockheed's air-launched long-range missile is a "great capability we need to bring on line fast," Adm. Harry Harris told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. He spoke hours before Secretary of State John Kerry was to meet with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Each country has accused the other of escalating military tensions in the western Pacific.
The anti-ship missile is included in the proposed Pentagon budget for fiscal 2017 as part of $8.1 billion to improve U.S. naval and underwater combat technologies. Defense Secretary Ash Carter highlighted the spending request last month as key to countering improved Russian and Chinese weapons and vessels.