US lawmakers unveil 10% defence funding boost for FY 2023

The FY 2023 omnibus appropriations bill includes funding for a host of weapon systems, including the F-35 Lightning II. (US Air Force)

US congressional negotiators have reached agreement on a fiscal year (FY) 2023 omnibus appropriations bill that would provide USD816.7 billion for the US Department of Defense (DoD), an increase of USD73.4 billion or about 10% from FY 2022, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees announced on 20 December.

The DoD funding includes USD162.2 billion for procurement, or USD17.3 billion above the FY 2022 enacted level; USD136.7 billion for research and development, up USD20.5 billion; USD278.1 billion for operations and maintenance, up USD21.8 billion; USD172.7 billion for personnel, up USD5.8 billion; and USD19 billion for military construction, up USD4.1 billion.

The bill would buy 61 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIs, 15 Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tankers, and 11 navy ships, among other platforms. It would continue development of the air force's B-21 Raider bomber and Next Generation Air Dominance programme.

The omnibus also contains USD17.1 billion for the US Department of Energy's (DoE's) nuclear weapons activities, USD2.1 billion for the DoE's naval nuclear reactor efforts; and USD45 billion for Ukraine-related military, economic, and humanitarian assistance, including USD9 billion to train and equip Ukrainian forces and USD11.9 billion to replenish stocks of US equipment sent to Ukraine.

The omnibus, which would provide a total of USD1.7 trillion across the federal government, heads to the full House and Senate for their consideration. The White House Office of Management and Budget issued a statement urging Congress to pass the legislation and send it to President Joe Biden for his signature.