Senator Hirono Secures $85 Million for HDR-H in Senate Armed Services Committee NDAA Markup for Fiscal Year 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced today that the Senate Armed Services Committee added an $85 million authorization for the Homeland Defense Radar-Hawaii (HDR-H) during its markup of the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), rejecting the administration’s decision to zero out funding in its budget request for the project.

When completed, HDR-H will be a key component of our nation’s ballistic missile defense system against evolving threats from North Korea and elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific. This funding will allow the Missile Defense Agency to continue radar production activities, environmental and siting efforts, and provide necessary program support to keep the program’s development on track.

The committee-approved NDAA text also directs the Missile Defense Agency Director, in consultation with the U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander, to provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees on the current and future threats, and the capability that HDR-H provides against future threats.

“The people of Hawaii deserve to be protected in an increasingly unpredictable region, and HDR-H remains a crucial part of our nation’s layered defense system. Leaders at INDOPACOM, MDA, and U.S. Forces Korea have all named HDR-H a priority for Hawaii’s protection; yet, when I repeatedly asked DOD to explain why HDR-H was zeroed out or what new system could achieve the same capability, it did not provide a satisfactory explanation,” Senator Hirono said. “I will advocate for HDR-H’s inclusion in the final, Senate-approved NDAA because the entire United States should receive the same level of protection from credible missile detection technology.”

Last year, Senator Hirono successfully advocated to reinstate full funding for HDR-H in the Senate Armed Services Committee NDAA markup, eventually securing $133 million and reauthorization of HDR-H after the Trump Administration zeroed out the program.