BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- US President George W. Bush has 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. It also provides a 3.5 percent pay increase for troops, and an additional 25 billion dollars for US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. China Radio International reported Saturday.

    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 also money for 39 more Army Black Hawk helicopters, a Virginia-class attack submarine, and three guided-missile destroyers.

    (CRIENGLISH.com)