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President Trump's fiscal year 2018 budget request boosts nuclear modernization spending in some areas, but largely maintains funding levels projected by the previous administration as the Pentagon embarks on a new review of its nuclear strategy.
The FY-18 budget request continues to fund Air Force and Navy nuclear modernization programs launched under the Obama administration to recapitalize the three legs of the nuclear triad. The request makes no mention of the Nuclear Posture Review, which began in April and could change the course of the Defense Department's nuclear modernization strategy.
"All three legs of the currently fielded nuclear triad have been extended well beyond their original service lives and are nearing the end of sustainability," DOD's FY-18 budget overview states. "Replacement programs are underway to ensure there are no gaps in capability when the legacy systems age-out. There is little or no schedule margin between legacy system age-out and fielding of the replacement systems."
The request seeks $2 billion in FY-18 to fund the development of the B-21 Raider long-range strike bomber, according to Air Force budget documents. The service awarded Northrop Grumman a contract in October 2015 to develop and build the B-21 to replace its aging B-1 and B-52 bombers.
The Air Force's Long Range Standoff (LRSO) weapon program would receive $451 million in development funding under the FY-18 request, according to budget documents. The weapon is being developed to replace the Air Force's nuclear Air-Launched Cruise Missile. The LRSO request represents a $32 million increase above what was projected for FY-18 in the Air Force's budget request last year.
The Navy's Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program would receive $776 million for development and $842 million in advance procurement funds under the FY-18 request, according to Navy budget documents. The submarines are being developed to replace the Ohio-class boats currently carrying the sea-based nuclear deterrent. The procurement request represents a $55 million increase in FY-18 above what the Obama administration projected last year. The Navy begins construction of the first of 12 Columbia-class submarines in FY-21.
The Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program, meanwhile, would receive $215 million under the FY-18 request, according to Air Force budget documents. The request is $79 million below what FY-17 budget documents projected for FY-18 GBSD funding. The system will begin replacing the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles in 2028, according to the DOD overview, which adds the Air Force is currently reviewing industry proposals for development of the new missiles.
The Joint Strike Fighter dual-capable aircraft program is seeking $35 million in FY-18, according to Air Force budget justification documents. The program is developing the ability of the F-35A variant to carry the B61 nuclear gravity bomb in addition to conventional weapons. The DCA capability is scheduled to achieve operational certification by FY-25, according to the DOD budget overview.
DOD is also seeking $91 million for the Air Force's B61 tailkit assembly program in FY-18, a $59 million reduction compared to what the FY-17 request projected. The B61 life extension program consolidates four legacy B61 nuclear gravity bombs into one variant. The Air Force's portion of the program involves tailkit assembly, while the Energy Department's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) handles the bomb assembly portion of the program.
The NNSA is seeking $13.9 billion in FY-18, an increase of nearly $1 billion above the FY-17 level, according to a DOE fact sheet. The NNSA request includes $10.2 billion for nuclear weapon activities, $1.8 billion for nonproliferation and $1.5 billion for naval reactors,
While the NNSA budget overview shows spending levels for FY-19 through FY-23 increasing 2.1 percent annually compared to the FY-18 topline, it notes "this outyear topline does not reflect a policy judgement."
"Instead, the administration will make a policy judgement on amounts for the National Nuclear Security Administration's FY 2019 -- FY 2023 topline in the FY 2019 Budget, in accordance with the National Security Strategy and Nuclear Posture Review that are currently under development," the overview continues.
The posture review was directed by President Trump to ensure the nuclear triad is "modern, robust, flexible, resilient, and appropriately tailored to deter 21st century threats and reassure our allies and partners," according to a Jan. 27 presidential memorandum.
The review will be led deputy defense secretary and the vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, "and include interagency partners. The process will culminate in a final report to the president by the end of the year," according to an April 17 Pentagon statement.
https://insidedefense.com/daily-news/trumps-first-budget-request-holds-line-nuclear-weapons-spending
The FY-18 budget request continues to fund Air Force and Navy nuclear modernization programs launched under the Obama administration to recapitalize the three legs of the nuclear triad. The request makes no mention of the Nuclear Posture Review, which began in April and could change the course of the Defense Department's nuclear modernization strategy.
"All three legs of the currently fielded nuclear triad have been extended well beyond their original service lives and are nearing the end of sustainability," DOD's FY-18 budget overview states. "Replacement programs are underway to ensure there are no gaps in capability when the legacy systems age-out. There is little or no schedule margin between legacy system age-out and fielding of the replacement systems."
The request seeks $2 billion in FY-18 to fund the development of the B-21 Raider long-range strike bomber, according to Air Force budget documents. The service awarded Northrop Grumman a contract in October 2015 to develop and build the B-21 to replace its aging B-1 and B-52 bombers.
The Air Force's Long Range Standoff (LRSO) weapon program would receive $451 million in development funding under the FY-18 request, according to budget documents. The weapon is being developed to replace the Air Force's nuclear Air-Launched Cruise Missile. The LRSO request represents a $32 million increase above what was projected for FY-18 in the Air Force's budget request last year.
The Navy's Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program would receive $776 million for development and $842 million in advance procurement funds under the FY-18 request, according to Navy budget documents. The submarines are being developed to replace the Ohio-class boats currently carrying the sea-based nuclear deterrent. The procurement request represents a $55 million increase in FY-18 above what the Obama administration projected last year. The Navy begins construction of the first of 12 Columbia-class submarines in FY-21.
The Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program, meanwhile, would receive $215 million under the FY-18 request, according to Air Force budget documents. The request is $79 million below what FY-17 budget documents projected for FY-18 GBSD funding. The system will begin replacing the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles in 2028, according to the DOD overview, which adds the Air Force is currently reviewing industry proposals for development of the new missiles.
The Joint Strike Fighter dual-capable aircraft program is seeking $35 million in FY-18, according to Air Force budget justification documents. The program is developing the ability of the F-35A variant to carry the B61 nuclear gravity bomb in addition to conventional weapons. The DCA capability is scheduled to achieve operational certification by FY-25, according to the DOD budget overview.
DOD is also seeking $91 million for the Air Force's B61 tailkit assembly program in FY-18, a $59 million reduction compared to what the FY-17 request projected. The B61 life extension program consolidates four legacy B61 nuclear gravity bombs into one variant. The Air Force's portion of the program involves tailkit assembly, while the Energy Department's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) handles the bomb assembly portion of the program.
The NNSA is seeking $13.9 billion in FY-18, an increase of nearly $1 billion above the FY-17 level, according to a DOE fact sheet. The NNSA request includes $10.2 billion for nuclear weapon activities, $1.8 billion for nonproliferation and $1.5 billion for naval reactors,
While the NNSA budget overview shows spending levels for FY-19 through FY-23 increasing 2.1 percent annually compared to the FY-18 topline, it notes "this outyear topline does not reflect a policy judgement."
"Instead, the administration will make a policy judgement on amounts for the National Nuclear Security Administration's FY 2019 -- FY 2023 topline in the FY 2019 Budget, in accordance with the National Security Strategy and Nuclear Posture Review that are currently under development," the overview continues.
The posture review was directed by President Trump to ensure the nuclear triad is "modern, robust, flexible, resilient, and appropriately tailored to deter 21st century threats and reassure our allies and partners," according to a Jan. 27 presidential memorandum.
The review will be led deputy defense secretary and the vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, "and include interagency partners. The process will culminate in a final report to the president by the end of the year," according to an April 17 Pentagon statement.
https://insidedefense.com/daily-news/trumps-first-budget-request-holds-line-nuclear-weapons-spending
