But China is way down. The EU is down. A lot of countries are very much down. Most of them. And we're hitting new highs. So we're doing a lot of things right, and you folks are a big reason for it.
Also with us today are the amazing people and airmen of the 673rd Air Base Wing. In the wake of a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, which was just recent, and I remember seeing it. I said, "Boy, oh, boy. That's a big one - 7.0." Took place in November. They successfully restored airfield operations here at J-Bear in under one hour. That's pretty quick.
Did you - what did you do to do that? That's - well, number one, I gave you good equipment, right? Huh? (Laughter.) Safeguarding NORAD's vital homeland security mission. Thank you for your incredible work. That's incredible. I heard that you were up and running in about an hour. And it was pretty - you were hit hard.
Alaska hosts the largest combined training area for American air, ground, and maritime forces. You know the best way to Keep America safe is to keep America strong. And the stronger we get, the less likely it is that we'll have to use that strength. Right, generals? It's an incredible - it's an incredible - we learned that in high school, we learned that way before high school. But the stronger you are, the stronger you can be, the less likely it is you'll have to use that strength and that power. And that's what we're doing. We're making you so strong. And soon, I can honestly say, strong like we've never been strong before.
That's why, in the last two years, I've spent - when you think about it - over $1.5 trillion. Next year, the 11th Air Force, headquartered right here at J-Bear, will receive the first of 54 brand-new - never used before - F-35 fighter jets. You like them? (Applause.)
Well, for the pilots - you know, I've seen a lot of the pilots throughout the country when I stop at different places, and I say, "How do you like the F-35?" "We love it, sir." "Well, how good is it compared to the enemy aircraft?" "Well, sir, you can't see it." I said, "Explain that to me." "You know, it's stealth." It's the stealthiest plane, by far, in the world. So they say, "Well, when we have battles, you can't see it." I said, "Huh, that would be tough." Wouldn't it be tough if you have somebody and you can't see it?
So all I say is this: You get 54 brand new ones. I won't tell you what they cost because it's too much. (Laughter.) But it's a lot of money. But they're very special and you're getting very special planes, and you're getting a lot of them - 54. So they'll be arriving here very soon.
And all of the generals, I hope you're going to give them all to the best pilots, and you're going to take good care of those planes and good care of those pilots. Right? Okay? It's really an honor. But you're getting a big, big number.
We'll also deploy 20 more ground-based interceptors to Fort Greeley, which will further strengthen our missile defense system. So important. Missile defense system is also being rebuilt very substantially. And we're going to have the latest and the greatest. Unfortunately, as soon as you have it, you have to redo it because, after about six months, everything becomes obsolete in this world. Right? We do that, they do this. We do that, they do this. It's never ending. But that's the way it goes. It's a cycle.
Our goal is very simple: to ensure that we can monitor, detect, and destroy any missile launched against the United States, no matter what speed we're talking about. Any missile.
We're spending a tremendous amount of money now on missile technology and also missile defense technology, at my very strong urging. And what they're able to do now is incredible. It's like shooting a needle in the haystack. It's incredible technology they have. And I said, "Upgrade it further and further. Advance it."
America does not seek conflict, but if we are forced to defend ourselves, we will fight and we will win in an overwhelming fashion. That's where we are.
We will forever be grateful for your service and your sacrifice. And we will always ensure that you have the tools, resources, and support you need to defeat our nation's enemies and safeguard the freedoms given to us by Almighty God.
To everyone at J-Bear: We salute you. We thank you for your incredible service. We love you. God bless you. And God bless the men and women of the armed forces. God bless America. And thank you for doing such a fantastic job. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you. (Applause.)
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