Pentagon wants $350b nuclear upgrade to deter aggressive Russia, China

The Pentagon is asking for $350 billion to upgrade its nuclear deterrent capability to handle growing aggression from Russia.

“Russia and U.S. cooperation has ground to a halt,” retired Navy Admiral William Fallon told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. Updating aged nuclear deterrent capabilities, he said, “should be a top consideration.”

Fallon, who retired in 2008 after commanding U.S. Central Command, is part of a week-long visit by defense leaders to Congress to push funding for the Pentagon before the federal budget is released next week. With both wars winding down, defense officials are seeking funding for initiatives that have been pushed back.

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