Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Military Space News .




MILPLEX
Pentagon asks for more funds for high-tech weapons
by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) Feb 2, 2015


In a bid to keep the US military's technological edge, President Barack Obama's proposed budget for 2016 calls for an increase in defense spending to pay for high-tech weapons and training.

The $585 billion request for the Pentagon would devote $107.7 billion to big-ticket weapons -- an increase of $14.1 billion over the previous budget.

And it would set aside $50.9 billion for the US mission in Afghanistan and the fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria -- a 21 percent decrease in war funding, known as the "overseas contingency operations" fund.

America's gargantuan military budget far surpasses that of any other country, and exceeds the combined defense spending of the next eight biggest militaries in the world.

Here are the highlights:

- Fighters, bombers and spy planes -

Obama is asking for $11 billion for 57 new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets, a major expansion for the most expensive weapons project in Pentagon history. The previous budget called for buying 38 of the fighter jets.

Apart from the radar-evading F-35s, the budget would invest $2 billion in a new long-range bomber -- a project that remains shrouded in secrecy -- as well as $3.4 billion for 16 P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft and $3 billion for 12 new refueling tankers.

The US Air Force also wants money to keep older aircraft in the air, including the B-52 bomber that dates back to the 1950s.

But the officials plan to retire the A-10 Warthog, a plane beloved by troops for its ability to pound tanks and other targets on the ground. Congress has previously blocked the air force's attempts to phase out the plane by 2019.

- Submarines and other warships -

For the US Navy, the budget would purchase two new destroyers for $3.5 billion, two Virginia-class submarines for $5.7 billion, a new amphibious ship for the Marine Corps for $600 million and three littoral combat ships for $1.9 billion -- a vessel that is being revamped after a series of problems.

The budget also would invest $2.8 billion in a sophisticated, new aircraft carrier, the Gerald Ford, and set aside $1.4 billion for the new Ohio-class submarine, which is supposed to replace the current fleet of nuclear-powered subs.

But Navy officials have acknowledged the Ohio-class submarines, which will cost an estimated $13 billion each, are so expensive that it will not be able to pay for its other warships without a major boost in funding.

- Missile defense and satellites -

The Pentagon is seeking $9.6 billion for missile defense programs to counter the potential threat from North Korea and Iran.

The funding would pay for new radar, anti-missile interceptors based on naval ships and for "enhancements" to the troubled ground-based interceptors.

Those ground-based weapons have encountered repeated problems in testing and the budget proposal would fund "modifications to address the root causes of recent flight test failures," the Pentagon said.

The budget request also calls for more than $5 billion for a range of satellites to bolster communications and intelligence gathering.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
The Military Industrial Complex at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle




Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News





MILPLEX
Russia in Talks With Iran on Tor-M1 Missile System Upgrades
Moscow, Russia (Sputnik) Jan 30, 2015
Russia's Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol is in talks with Iran on modernizing the short range Tor-M1 (SA-15 Gauntlet) surface-to-air missile defense systems, the plant's assistant director general told RIA Novosti Thursday. "Iran has been operating a large number of our Tor-M1s. We [Iran and Russia] are holding talks about a possible modernization of the Tor-M1. We provide [Iran] wit ... read more


MILPLEX
Raytheon given $2.4B FMS contract for Patriot fire units

US delivers second radar defense system to Japan

US Ballistic Missile Defense Needs More Testing

Israel, US in abortive missile defence test

MILPLEX
Pakistan test-fires nuclear-capable cruise missile

Russia to Test Strategic Missile Forces in Unscheduled Drills

Russia Will Test Launch Iskander-M Missiles During March Drills

Navy authorizes SM-6 missile for more ships

MILPLEX
Chinese company limits US drone use after White House crash

Raytheon acquires remote sensing, UAS tech company

Establishing a CODE for UAVs to fly together

Russia Develops Two New Drones, Ready for Testing

MILPLEX
U.S. EA-18G Growlers getting new electronic warfare system

Third MUOS Satellite Launched And Responding To Commands

USAF orders addditional Boeing rescue radios

MUOS-3 satellite ready for launch

MILPLEX
DRS touts new laser targeting gimbal

BAE Systems gets support contract for British Army vehicles

Prototype weapons launcher fitted onto B-52 bomber

Army opens THAAD training school

MILPLEX
Russia in Talks With Iran on Tor-M1 Missile System Upgrades

Brazil Hopes to Ink Pantsir-S1 Air Defense Deal With Russia by Mid-2015

Iran expects Russia to deliver S-300 missile systems

Airbus DS sells Belgian electronics factory

MILPLEX
China asks UN to blackout NGO criticism: diplomats

Calls for louder global "voice" as China, India, Russia meet

Indian PM Modi to visit China in May: foreign minister

Philippines a 'crying baby' for opposing China island-building

MILPLEX
Nanoscale mirrored cavities amplify, connect quantum memories

Making functionalized nanocarbons

Holes in valence bands of nanodiamonds discovered

ORNL researchers tune friction in ionic solids at the nanoscale




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.