The United States, Germany and Italy this week agreed to maintain trilateral collaboration on a developmental battlefield short-range missile defense system , whose continued financing by the U.S. government has been strongly opposed by Congress, Inside Defense reported on Thursday.

The letter of intent on the Medium Extended Air Defense System, which was signed by senior defense acquisition officials from the three NATO allies on Wednesday in Brussels, does not include any promises of further financial support from the United States, according to unidentified sources. Still, the letter will likely raise some eyebrows on Capitol Hill where both chambers have taken steps to ensure no more U.S. government dollars go toward the air defense system’s development. . . .

The department said the funding was necessary in order to fulfill contractual obligations and to enable the United States to benefit from any technological advancements that come from the project.

Image: MEADS is a short-range missile defense system (photo: NATO)