Replacement of ammunition sent to Ukraine and new missiles: Pentagon is requesting $170 billion

The Pentagon has submitted a request to the government for $170 billion for the purchase of new weapons and ammunition.

With these funds, the US will replenish its own reserves, which are decreasing due to the constant support of Ukraine in its fight against a full-scale Russian invasion.

Some of these funds will also be allocated for long-range missiles, which would be necessary in a conflict with China, according to the US Defense Department budget document.

$170 billion are planned to be spent on the purchase of new weapons in the new fiscal year.

Another $145 billion should fund research and development of new types of weapons. Both of these sums are record highs.

The US Defense Department will ask for $76.8 billion for the Navy and Marines, with $32.8 billion in new ship construction, according to the document obtained by Bloomberg.

$61 billion are intended for the Air Force, which includes the US Space Force. And $24.4 billion is to be requested for the needs of the army (ground forces).

At the same time, the accompanying document on scientific research and development in the military sphere refers to a request for the amount of $145 billion overall, with $46 billion for the Air Force, $27 billion for the Navy and $15.7 billion for the Army.

Among the largest research and development recipients are $3.7 billion for the Northrop Grumman Corp.’s new Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile, $3 billion for B-21 bomber development and $2.3 billion for the “Next Generation Air Dominance” program designed to replace the F-22 fighter jet.

The Pentagon’s main request includes:

• $951 million for 550 Joint Air-To-Surface Standoff Missiles made by Lockheed Martin Corp.;
• $928 million for 831 Navy/Air Force Amraam air-to-air missiles from Raytheon Technologies Corp.;
• $886 million to buy 5,016 GMLRS rockets from Lockheed Martin.;
• $639 million to buy 91 Navy Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles from Lockheed Martin;
• $400 million to buy a new version of the Stinger called M-Shorad;
• $308 million for 78 MK-48 advanced torpedoes from Lockheed Martin;
• $199 million to buy 541 Javelin anti-armor missiles made by Raytheon-Lockheed and lionized by Ukrainian forces for their lethal efficacy against Russian tanks;
• $179 million to buy from Lockheed Martin 28 additional Himars mobile rocket systems.

The documents will be released on Monday as part of a detailed disclosure of the budget request for the next fiscal year, which begins in the US on October 1.

In total, the $170 billion procurement bid exceeds what Congress has allocated for this fiscal year by 8 billion. The research and development request is about $5 billion higher than what Congress approved.