09 April 2021
by Ashley Roque & Michael Fabey
The Biden administration has notified Congress that it will request USD715 billion in discretionary funds for the Department of Defense (DoD) next year, an increase over this year’s enacted topline budget.
On 9 April the White House’s Office Management and Budget (OMB) announced that it will request USD753 billion in national defence funding for fiscal year (FY) 2022, with the bulk of which is for the DoD. The Pentagon’s coffer would get a 1.6% increase over the FY 2021 enacted funding level of USD704 billion. However, with roughly a 1.7% 12-month inflation rate, the overall request remains relatively flat.
Despite the negligible change in proposed Pentagon spending for next year, OMB said it will ask for a 16% increase for non-defence discretionary funding with a USD769.4 billion request.
The request also discontinues the practice of requesting separate funds marked for ‘Overseas Contingency Operations’ and instead includes those funds inside the DoD base budget.
“The discretionary request prioritises the need to counter the threat from China as the Department’s top challenge,” OMB wrote in a letter to Congress. “The department would also seek to deter destabilizing behaviour by Russia. Leveraging the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and working together with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, DoD would ensure that the United States builds the concepts, capabilities, and posture necessary to meet these challenges.”
Lloyd Austin, the new US Defense Secretary, will have to sell his budget to Congress. The Biden administration plans to request USD715 billion in DoD discretionary funding for FY 2022. (DoD)
OMB’s letter does not detail specific programme funding levels, which will come later, but it does note some areas the forthcoming budget request will focus on including research and development, maintaining US naval power, investing in long-range fires weapons, modernising nuclear capabilities, and divesting from legacy systems.
Pentagon leadership has also yet to detail how it will divide funding between the services. They could decide to provide each service with similar topline numbers or provide one with additional financial backing. For example, given the administration’s continued focus on China as the ‘pacing threat’, some top lawmakers have suggested that the navy receive a larger budget next year.
Lloyd Austin, the new US Defense Secretary, will have to sell his budget to Congress. The Biden administration plans to request USD715 billion in DoD discretionary funding for FY 2022. (DoD)
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19 April 2024
by Akhil Kadidal
A new engine factory being developed by Hanwha Aerospace at Changwon will produce engines for the KAI KF-21 and the TA-50 multirole trainer aircraft. (Zhang Hui/VCG via Getty Images)
Hanwha Aerospace is building a new factory to produce engines for combat aircraft, including the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 Boramae 4.5-generation aircraft. The new factory is also expected to support the development of South Korea's new domestic fighter engine programme.
Ground was broken for the 16,530m 2 engine production facility at Changwon on 15 April 2024, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense (MND) said on 17 April. The factory is being developed at a cost of USD30 million and is scheduled to be operational by 2025. The MND added that the factory's priority is the licence production of the 92.1 kN (20,700 lb st) General Electric F414-GE-400 engine for the KF-21.
A Hanwha Aerospace spokesperson told Janes on 19 April that “100%” of the licence manufacture of the F414 engine will be achieved at this factory. “The facility is expected to produce approximately 300 engines annually [after becoming operational], the spokesperson added.
19 April 2024
by Gareth Jennings
A Dutch Chinook (foreground) arrived at Holzdorf Air Base in mid-April to help the Luftwaffe prepare for the arrival of its own Chinooks into the station from 2027. In the background is a Luftwaffe CH-53G currently based at the location. (Bundeswehr)
The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) is helping the Luftwaffe prepare for its upcoming Chinook heavy-lift helicopter capability, dispatching one of its own helicopters to the type's future operating station in mid-April.
The Bundeswehr said on 18 April that an RNLAF CH-47F Block 1 Chinook landed for the first time at Holzdorf Air Base (also known as Schönewalde), south of Berlin, to help the Luftwaffe prepare for the arrival of the first of its CH-47F Block II Chinook Standard Range (SR) air-to-air refuelling (AAR)-capable heavy-lift helicopters from 2027 to 2032.
“With the future stationing of the CH-47, Holzdorf Air Base will become a hub for helicopter transport. The [Luftwaffe] is gaining initial experience with the Chinook transport helicopter with its Dutch allies – in flight operations, refuelling, and training,” the Bundeswehr said.
19 April 2024
by Gareth Jennings
With the UK already flying the H145 with the UKMFTS training programme, it has acquired additional rotorcraft to take on its Brunei and Cyprus support missions. (Crown Copyright)
The United Kingdom has contracted Airbus to deliver six new Airbus Helicopters H145 rotorcraft to be used in Brunei and Cyprus.
Announced by the Defence, Equipment, and Support (DE&S) branch of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 18 April, the GBP122 million (USD152 million) award will see the helicopters acquired to replace the Airbus Puma HC2s (Helicopter Cargo 2) that are supporting the British Army's training mission in Brunei following the recent retirement of the Bell 212s, as well as the Pumas HC2s that performing search-and-rescue (SAR) and support duties at Royal Air Force (RAF) Akrotiri in Cyprus following the recent retirement of the Bell 412s.
Known as Jupiter HC2 in UK military service, the D3-standard five-bladed helicopters are to be delivered later in 2024. The MoD already operates the D2-standard four-bladed H145 in the trainer configuration, with seven Jupiter HT1 (Helicopter Training 1) aircraft in use with the UK Military Flying Training System.
The Biden administration has notified Congress that it will request USD715 billion in discretionary ...
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