Bush signs US$417.5 defense bill

US President George W. Bush on Thursday signed a 417.5 billion-US dollar defense bill for the 2005 fiscal year.

The bill provides nearly 78 billion dollars for weapons purchases - 3 billion more than Bush requested - a 3.5 percent payincrease for troops, and an additional 25 billion dollars for US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It allocates 10 billion dollars for continued work on a national missile defense system, 100 million dollars for the Air Force to modernize its fleet of midair refueling tankers, and alsomoney for 39 more Army Black Hawk helicopters, a Virginia-class attack submarine, and three guided-missile destroyers.

After the signing ceremony at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Bush was returning to his re-election campaign trail.