The draft US defense budget for fiscal year 2026 in the amount of $1.01 trillion is focused primarily on containing China and activating the American military-industrial complex, the Pentagon told journalists.
The department asks Congress to allocate $197.4 billion for the needs of the US ground forces, $292.2 billion for the Navy and $301.1 billion for the Air Force.
The Pentagon expects to receive $60 billion to modernize all components of the national nuclear triad, $25 billion as an “initial investment“ in the creation of the "Golden Dome" missile defense system, which the United States wants to deploy, $3.5 billion for the development of the sixth-generation F-47 fighter-bomber, $3.9 billion for the development of hypersonic weapons.
In addition, the military department requests $15.1 billion for ensuring cybersecurity, $1.3 billion for improving supply chains for the needs of the military-industrial complex, $2.5 billion for increasing the production of missiles and other ammunition, and $5 billion for tightening border control.
According to the draft defense budget, the Pentagon intends to purchase not 74 fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter-bombers, as previously expected, but 47. In addition, it is recommended to abandon the purchase of E-7 early warning and control aircraft Wedgetail, manufactured by Boeing.
The White House announced in early May that the United States plans to increase military spending in fiscal year 2026 to $1.01 trillion. As follows from the draft federal budget, Washington intends to increase the volume of defense budget spending by 13.4% compared to fiscal year 2025.