29 March 2023

Pentagon budget 2024: US military services report USD12.6 billion in ‘unfunded priorities'

by Marc Selinger

The US Marine Corps' unfunded priorities list include a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship. (HII)

The six US military services have told Congress they have identified more than USD12.6 billion in “unfunded priorities”, or necessary programmes that did not receive funding in the US Department of Defense's (DoD's) fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget request, according to documents obtained by Janes .

The US Marine Corps' unfunded priorities list (UPL) totals USD3.7 billion, including USD1.7 billion for a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship (LPD-33), USD252.9 million for two KC-130J refuelling aircraft and “initial spares”, and USD206.3 million for Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) and Trailers.

The US Air Force (USAF) and the US Navy (USN) lists each total USD2.5 billion. The USAF list includes USD1.2 billion for military construction projects, USD227.8 million for “agile” communications equipment, and USD174.5 million for F-16 radar modernisation. The USN list includes USD550 million for targeted facilities sustainment, restoration, and modernisation; USD300 million for dry dock repairs at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington state; and USD264 million for electronic warfare improvements to two aircraft carriers.

The US Army says it has USD1.9 billion in unfunded priorities, such as USD533 million for Abrams tank upgrades and USD121 million to replace AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. The US Coast Guard's list totals USD1.6 billion, including USD400 million for four Fast Response Cutters and USD138.5 million for an HC-130J long-range surveillance aircraft. The US Space Force's USD477.3 million list is mostly for classified programmes.

The six US military services have told Congress they have identified more than USD12.6 billion in “u...

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