Traditionally, in mid-September, American lawmakers finish discussing the submitted draft military budget, make the last amendments and approve its final version. The new budget, according to which defense spending will be allocated in FY 2018, was adopted a few days ago. In the very near future, the document will come into force, and it is already possible to find out what it provides and how it differs from previous budgets.
The main difference between the new budget is its size. In the next fiscal year, the United States will spend $ 692 billion on defense. By comparison, the budget for the end of FY17 is was only 619 billion. Over the past several months, the draft military budget has been adjusted several times, due to which the estimated amount of expenditures has repeatedly changed. The project proposed in May included spending in the amount of 677 billion. Later, there were proposals for a reduction or, conversely, an increase. For example, the head of the Senate Armed Services Committee, John McCain, spoke of the need to allocate at least $ 700 billion.
In the context of the size of the budget, it should be noted that the adopted document does not correspond to the Act on Budget Control, in force since 2011. In accordance with the plans of the beginning of the decade, which implied a gradual reduction in military spending, in 2018 no more than $ 549 billion should be spent on defense. However, in this regard, the Donald Trump administration differs little from the previous leadership of the country. The FY17 budget, passed under President Barack Obama, also exceeded the recommendations of the 2011 Act. But it should be noted that now the actual budget has gone even further beyond the recommended limits.
As always, the defense budget is divided into three main parts. The first and largest is the budget of the Ministry of Defense, which provides for the costs of maintaining the army and its materiel, purchases of weapons and equipment, etc. It is planned to spend 668 billion for these needs. This includes an amount of $ 65 billion to continue overseas operations. The remaining money will go to finance the defense programs of the nuclear industry, as well as other projects and purchases related to defense, but passing through other departments.
Even at the stage of discussing the project, the Pentagon announced what the additional funding would be spent on, due to which the new budget exceeds the current one. In 2018, it is planned to continue the increase in the size of the army and the Marine Corps, which began under the previous president. In addition, D. Trump initiated an increase in the numerical indicators of the fleet and the air force, which will also continue in the next fiscal year. In parallel, funding for operating units, logistics, training, etc. will be increased. The plans of the military and political leadership also include the development of the production capacities of shipbuilding enterprises.
A significant part of military spending in the new financial year will be associated with the purchase of various products and financing of new developments. In particular, it is planned to pay great attention to the development of strategic nuclear forces. Funding for the development of the promising B-21 bomber, as well as a new cruise missile for it, will continue. It is supposed to pay for the modernization of the existing ballistic missiles of submarines, as well as work on the project of a new submarine. Provides funding for the project of a promising ground-based intercontinental missile.
Early draft budgets for FY18. it was necessary to purchase 44 interceptor missiles for use as part of missile defense. Also, substantial sums were supposed to be allocated to pay for work on the creation of new antimissiles and other defense systems. One of the most expensive components of these plans should be the deployment of missile defense bases abroad, primarily in European countries.
About 6-8 billion were previously proposed to be spent on military space programs. Of particular interest in this area is the project for the development of a promising rocket engine, with the help of which it is planned to abandon the purchase of Russian products in the future.
The ground forces, in accordance with existing plans, will have to receive a significant number of new equipment and weapons. For example, it was supposed to receive more than 2 thousand JLTV armored cars. The modernization of the M1A2 Abrams tanks, which started not so long ago, will also continue. Armored cars of new types and other equipment will also be purchased for the ILC. There is no information on the acquisition of significant quantities of other types of armored combat vehicles.
Financing of the naval forces will allow ordering and, at least partially, paying for nine new ships, submarines and vessels. About 4.5 billion dollars will be spent on the second aircraft carrier of the new series. Payment for this ship will continue over the next few years. More than $ 5 billion will go towards the purchase of two new Virginia-class submarines and a partial payment for the third. Also, two new destroyers of the Arleigh Burke project of the Flight III series and two ships of the Littoral Combat Ship will be ordered and paid for. Funding for the construction of another America-class amphibious assault ship will begin. Naval Aviation will order several P-8 anti-submarine aircraft.
The Air Force, using the budget determined by it, will be able to order several dozen new aircraft. First of all, these will be fighters of the F-35 family. The existing aircraft and helicopters, in turn, will undergo repair and modernization. The purchase of several dozen medium and heavy class UAVs is planned.
Congress allowed the Pentagon to spend $ 65 billion on various operations. In accordance with the original plans, the bulk of this amount will go to pay for activities abroad. Only about 16 billion is expected to be spent on mobilization and various actions in the United States. Other money is needed to continue working in Iraq, Afghanistan and other theaters of war. In particular, the budget provides for the continuation of cooperation with the so-called. moderate opposition and Kurdish formations in Syria and Iraq.
The new budget provides for financial and other assistance to friendly states in various regions. Plans for the two countries are of particular interest in this context. So, it is planned to spend 150 million dollars to help Ukraine. At the same time, only half of this amount can be used immediately, while the distribution of the remaining 75 million will be possible only with the approval of Congress. It was also announced that it will continue to support Georgia and assist in various areas.
The new US military budget differs markedly from a similar document, which expires in a few days. At the same time, the observed changes do not look unexpected or surprising. Even during his election campaign, future President Donald Trump expressed his intention to develop the armed forces, as well as support the domestic defense industry. To a certain extent, these statements were superimposed on the already existing plans, which in the recent past led to visible results.
It was in connection with the desire to support the army and the military-industrial complex that the new administration expanded plans for the purchase of products, as well as increased funding for other areas. There are already forecasts according to which such budget features will lead not only to certain consequences in the context of defense capability, but also to the improvement of D. Trump's relations with the heads of military industry enterprises.
After several years of constant and systematic cuts in military expenditures, official Washington is returning to increasing them. This time, the military budget was increased from $ 619 to $ 692 billion. It should be noted that this contributes to the preservation of the United States first place in the list of countries with the highest defense spending. At the same time, such a situation existed in the past, during the downsizing under Barack Obama. For example, in fiscal 2017, when the United States spent $ 619 billion on defense, China's defense budget (second in the world) was $ 146 billion. Russia, in turn, lags behind both of these countries, having allocated only 69 billion for defense.
In accordance with the norms of American law, the budget approved by Congress must go through some additional procedures, after which it will be signed by the president. Just a few days after that, on October 1, the document will come into force. The US military department will begin a new reporting period, during which it will have to implement a lot of plans in different areas.
