The Pentagon agency that runs the USA’s missile-defense system halted work earlier this year on a $375 million radar facility near Clear, Alaska largely because of COVID-19 concerns, APM reports.

A congressional report says the decision will likely delay the Missile Defense Agency’s fielding of the advanced radar facility by about a year.

Missile defense officials say the radar facility will provide a much greater capability for tracking incoming missiles and discriminating in detection of other objects.

Lockheed Martin Corp. manufactures the system.