"With over 20,000 US troops stationed on the island, Guam will play an essential role in the defense of American allies and interests in the region. But despite its strategic importance, Guam remains highly vulnerable to an increasingly sophisticated network of missiles from the People’s Republic of China, especially its cruise missiles," the letter, addressed to Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, said.
Guam lacks sufficient missile defense capabilities, endangering its use as a submarine port and support base in the event of a conflict with China, the letter stressed. Delays in the development of the Army’s new missile defense system, the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 (IFPC Inc 2), could push its implementation back from the expected Fiscal Year 2026 fielding timeline, the letter stated.
The committee believes in the need to explore alternative options to fill the defense gap, given the delays in the system, the letter said. The letter points toward National Advanced Surface to Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) as a potential alternative, but called Patriot Advanced Capability-3 systems an "unaffordable" option.
The committee requests that Wormuth respond to the letter by December 1.