WASHINGTON \u2014 President Joe Biden\u2019s proposed $850 billion Pentagon budget for fiscal 2025 sends less-than-subtle strategic messages aimed at China: It would tap U.S. stockpiles to arm Taiwan and provide major funding increases for long-range, air-launched anti-ship missiles.<\/p>\n
The Defense Department\u2019s share of the $7.3 trillion budget proposed to Congress on Monday reflects only a 1% increase. The Pentagon is already in a tough spot because Congress has yet to pass a spending measure for this fiscal year, which started Oct. 1, and hasn\u2019t approved a supplemental security spending bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.<\/p>\n
Although the Biden administration is staying within budget caps imposed by Congress, that didn\u2019t deter critics who demand more for defense. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur defense budget should be built with the goal of deterring the threats facing our nation,\u201d House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers, an Alabama Republican, said in a statement. \u201cInstead, we are forced to build a budget to meet an arbitrary number. I worry about the long-term impact this budget process will have on our national defense.\u201d<\/p>\n
The \u201cfirst-time funding request\u201d of $500 million to replenish weapons that would be provided to Taiwan would \u201caddress aggression in the region and ensure continued support to our allies\u201d while enabling the Pentagon to replace its inventory of \u201cmunitions and equipment and maintain readiness,\u201d the Defense Department said in budget documents released Monday. <\/p>\n
Congress authorized the presidential drawdown authority in the latest defense policy bill, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks told reporters at the Pentagon.<\/p>\n
It would be similar to the more than 50 Presidential Drawdown Authority packages that the U.S. has used to replace weapons provided to Ukraine since Russia\u2019s invasion. Taiwan\u2019s supporters in Congress have called for a comparable level of urgency in providing it arms to counter China\u2019s increasing aggressiveness toward the self-governed island it claims as its own.<\/p>\n
In addition, the Biden administration\u2019s budget proposal for the State Department includes $100 million for what it calls a \u201chistoric\u201d investment in Taiwan\u2019s security, including a new bilateral Foreign Military Financing request \u201cto strengthen deterrence and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.\u201d<\/p>\n
Along with the Taiwan funding, the Pentagon budget would seek to \u201cdeter attacks by the People\u2019s Republic of China on the U.S., its forces\u201d and allies by continued efforts to \u201cenhance the capabilities and those systems that the PRC is most likely to target\u201d and enhance readiness through combined exercises. <\/p>\n
The budget calls for expanding anti-ship capabilities to \u201chelp us to neutralize the enemy\u2019s strategy\u201d to deny U.S. forces and ships access to the Pacific. The services are pursuing development of the ship-destroying Standard Missile-6, an anti-ship cruise missile built by Lockheed Martin Corp. and a Maritime Strike Tomahawk from RTX Corp. to fire from U.S. subs. The Navy bought the first 50 anti-ship Tomahawks this year and wants to buy 342 through fiscal 2028.<\/p>\n
The Army is projecting to significantly boost last year\u2019s request for military exercises in the Pacific region, Major General Mark Bennett, the Army\u2019s budget director, told reporters. The service is planning to fund 11 exercises in fiscal 2025, two more than this fiscal year, and is requesting $461 million. <\/p>\n
The budget request includes $9.9 billion in spending on the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, up $800 million from this year, to enhance U.S. forces and facilities in the region.<\/p>\n
The push to counter China is also reflected in a proposal for increased purchases of extended-range anti-ship missiles.<\/p>\n
Among other major provisions in the proposed Pentagon budget:<\/p>\n
\u2014 $826 million for 285 anti-radar missiles from Northrop Grumman Corp. for launch from Air Force and Navy fighter jets.<\/p>\n
\u2014 $697 million for 205 Lockheed Long-Range Anti-Ship missiles for the Air Force and Navy, up from 118 in this year\u2019s request, most of which are a new longer-range version.<\/p>\n
\u2014 $676 million to buy 230 Lockheed long-range Precision Strike Missiles, up from 110 this year, to field with Pacific units.<\/p>\n
\u2014 $5.1 billion for Army and Navy ammunition procurement other than missiles, up from $4.9 billion proposed for last year, which includes US, Swedish and South Korean suppliers<\/p>\n
\u2014 The Army is readjusting its strategy for one of its top artillery programs after prototypes fell short of expectations. The Extended Range Cannon Artillery program combined a 58-caliber gun tube mounted on the chassis of a Paladin Integrated Management howitzer made by BAE Systems Plc.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Microsoft Corp.\u2019s night vision goggles get a boost in the request. The Army is requesting $256 Million in procurement funds and about $98 million for research and development.<\/p>\n
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