The Defense Department spent $24 billion on its unclassified and classified intelligence activities in Fiscal 2011, announced Pentagon officials. This military intelligence program topline included the appropriations both in the Pentagon’s base budget and in its overseas contingency operations accounts, they said. DOD officials said they determined that “releasing this topline figure does not jeopardize any classified activities within the MIP.” However, they said they would not release additional MIP budget figures or program details since they “remain classified for national security reasons.” The Fiscal 2011 MIP total was down some $3 billion from the previous fiscal year. The MIP comprises the activities that support the Defense Secretary’s intelligence, counterintelligence, and related responsibilities.
Since President Donald Trump first unveiled his “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative in late January, much of the focus for it has been focused on space—how the Pentagon may deploy dozens, if not hundreds, of sensors and interceptors into orbit to protect the continental U.S. from missile barrages. But the Air…