China and weapons details marked the Pentagon’s budget request for 2024

The Pentagon has made the highest budget request since its inception and has released details of the ministry’s budget.

In the documents related to the defense budget request, $842 billion for Pentagon spending in fiscal year 2024, $32.8 billion for “atomic energy defense activities” and $11.5 billion for ” other defense-related activities”, a total of 886.3 billion dollars. they were requested.

DEMAND INCREASED UNTIL 2023

Consequently, the US administration has requested an additional budget of $26 billion from the 2023 budget and $100 billion from the 2022 budget for next year.

The documents noted that the increase in question was primarily due to competition against China, the priorities specified in the US Defense Strategy Paper 2022, and rising inflation.

In the budget request, it was stated that the number of Ground Forces reserve soldiers would be reduced by 2,200, while the total number of US Army soldiers would be increased by 12,355 to 2,740,000.

MILITARY SALARIES WILL INCREASE

On the other hand, it was indicated that within the scope of the budget, the salaries of soldiers would increase by 5.2 percent.

US Assistant Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, who made a statement to reporters about the Pentagon’s budget request, said the request was the highest budget request in the ministry’s history.

Hicks stressed that the priorities they set for competition with China are an important factor in preparing the budget demand and that they focus on new weapons purchases in the budget demand.

Emphasis on the concept of integrated deterrence

The US Defense Strategy Paper goal to modernize all US Army force commands in parallel and create integrated deterrence was also reflected in the budget.

The budget request indicated that of the 886.3 billion dollars budgeted, 315 billion were allocated to the purchase of weapons.

It was reported that money from the annual budget will be earmarked for the construction of advanced technology fifth-generation warplanes, 9 new warships, as well as new Ford-Class Aircraft Carriers and Columbia-Class Ballistic Missile Submarines.

On the other hand, $37.7 billion were requested for the modernization of nuclear weapons and $29.8 billion for the modernization of the anti-missile defense capacity.

In this context, it was stated that new-generation ground-based missile defense systems will be developed, Patriot air defense systems will be further developed, and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system will be integrated into the Air and Missile Command. . System of the Land Forces.

On the other hand, it was indicated that a budget of 1,500 million dollars was assigned for the defense of the island of Guam against China.

STUNNING DETAIL FROM CHINA AND RUSSIA

Another striking item in the budget request documents was the Indo-Pacific and Europe deterrent fund.

The documents showed that the Pentagon requested $9.1 billion to invest in the region to deter China.

On the other hand, it was noted that approximately $5 billion was requested for the European Deterrence Initiative against Russia, for which more than $3 billion was allocated in the budget every year since 2014.

INVEST IN HYPERSONIC MISSILES

Following the emergence of China’s highly advanced hypersonic missile test, the Pentagon began to focus on investments in hypersonic missiles.

While it was recorded in the budget request that $11 billion was allocated for long-range missiles, it was emphasized that 24 new hypersonic missiles will be purchased in 2024 and the second battery of hypersonic missiles will be prepared for deployment in 2025.

$33.3 BILLION TO SPACE FORCES

The Pentagon has requested a total of $33.3 billion for space capabilities, and the budget request document states that this amount is the highest space capabilities spending request in the ministry’s history.

On the other hand, the documents stated that 13.5 billion dollars were allocated for cyber activities.

In this context, it was indicated that the “Zero Trust” concept developed for the continuous protection of data networks will be put into operation, 5 new Cyber ​​​​Task Force Teams will be established and the number of these teams will be increased to 147 .

FUND FOR YPG/PKK

In the budget request documents, it was seen that a total of $146.6 billion was requested in the area of ​​war preparedness activities and international operating capabilities.

Of this amount, $28.8 billion correspond to the Ground Forces, $52.7 billion to the Navy, $4.4 billion to the Marine Corps, $39.9 billion to the Air Force, $3.3 billion to the Space Forces, $9.7 billion to Special Forces, and $7.1 billion to Joint Capabilities.

The fund, which will benefit the YPG/PKK terrorist organization, was included in the Special Forces’ war preparation budget.

Included in the documents were the following statements for the $9.7 billion budget allocated for preparing Special Forces for war:

“This amount funds the force’s continued combat readiness as it takes steps in force modernization while maintaining its full-capacity global deployment for integrated deterrence, partnership building and counter-war campaigns. violent extremism”.

The Pentagon added the fund, which also benefits from the YPG/PKK, to the Potential Foreign Operations budget, also known as the war fund, which changes annually. For the last 2 years, this budget has been included in the main budget of the Pentagon.

In the budget allocated for fiscal year 2023 for international operations, $165 billion was earmarked for the Syrian train equipment program, from which the YPG/PKK terrorist organization also benefited.

The amount to be allocated to the YPG/PKK will be disclosed in the Justification Document. (AA)