WASHINGTON: The 2022 defense budget will see “probably the largest ever request” for research and development to counter China’s increasing military prowess, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told the House Appropriation defense subcommittee today.
Pumping money into new and emerging technologies has been a cornerstone of Biden administration messaging on the $715 billion budget. But the overall budget is expected to fail to keep up with inflation, a fact that has drawn sharp criticism from Republicans and quiet opposition from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
Testifying alongside Chairman of the Joint Chief, Gen. Mark Milley, Austin said the budget — which will be released tomorrow — will “see investments in missile defeat and defense. You’ll see a significant investment in our naval forces, long-range fires, and probably the largest-ever request for RDT&E for development of technologies.”
breakingdefense.com/2021/05/secdef-rd-spending-to-skyrocket-in-22-budget/
Pentagon Gets $7.5 Billion for Unmanned Systems
MQ-25 Stingray drone
Boeing photo
The Defense Department has been allocated about $7.5 billion in fiscal year 2021 for a variety of robotic platforms and related technologies, according to a recent study that looked at more than 1,000 funding items.
All of the military services and Special …
www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/5/27/pentagon-gets-$7-5-billion-for-unmanned-systems