(Washington) President Trump has sent Congress a proposed Fiscal Year
(FY) 2019 budget request of $716 billion for national security, $686 billion of
which is for the Department of Defence.
The National Defence Strategy, which aligns with the National Security Strategy,
connects strategy to the FY 2019 budget priorities, enabling the Department to
compete, deter, and win. This
establishes a foundation for rebuilding the U.S. military into a more capable,
lethal, and ready Joint Force. The
objectives of the Department are
“To be prepared to defend the homeland, remain the pre-eminent military power in the world, ensure the balances of power remain in our favour, and advance an international order that is most conducive to our security and prosperity.”So the question which a lot of people are asking is what has he ordered for 2019:
Aircraft
77 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters
15 KC-46 Tanker Replacements
24 F/A-18s
60 AH-64E Attack Helicopters
6 VH-92 Presidential Helicopters
10 P-8A Aircraft
8 CH-53K King Stallion
Shipbuilding
2 Virginia Class Submarines
3 DDG-51 Arleigh Burke Destroyers
CVN-78 Class Aircraft Carrier
2 Fleet Replenishment Oilers (T-AO)
Ground Systems
30 Amphibious Combat Vehicles
197 Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicles
The National Defence Strategy also notes the importance of
prioritizing “investments in resilience, reconstitution, and operations to
assure our space capabilities.” Our
space investments include:
5 Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles
Global Positioning System
Space Based Infrared System
Highlighting the importance of missile defence programs, the
National Defence Strategy calls for investments that will “focus on layered
missile defences and disruptive capabilities for both theatre missile threats
and North Korean ballistic missile threats.”
Those investments for FY 2019 include:
43 AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defence (SM-3)
Ground Based Midcourse Defence
82 THAAD Ballistic Missile Defence
240 Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) Missile Segment
Enhancements
