With the inclusion of overseas contingency operations, the Defense Department’s request to fund its intelligence activities in Fiscal 2014 increases by $4 billion to $18.6 billion, announced the Pentagon. Back in April, DOD released the $14.6 billion base request to cover its unclassified and classified intelligence activities next fiscal year, noting that the OCO request would come at a later date. Pentagon officials said they determined that releasing the updated figure “does not jeopardize any classified activities within the [military intelligence program].” However, they will not release additional details on the MIP, “as they remain classified for national security reasons,” states the Pentagon’s June 27 release. The MIP comprises the projects that support the Defense Secretary’s intelligence, counterintelligence, and related responsibilities.
Pentagon officials overseeing homeland counter-drone strategy told lawmakers that even with preliminary moves to bolster U.S. base defenses, the military still lacks the capability to comprehensively identify, track, and engage hostile drones like those that breached the airspace of Langley Air Force Base in Virginia for 17 days in December…