What weapons will the US adopt in 2021
In 2021, the US military budget will amount to $740.5 billion, of which $705.4 billion will be allocated directly to the Ministry of Defense. "Newspaper.Ru " analyzed what types of weapons and military equipment will be purchased by Washington in 2021 and what will be given special attention.
Under the National Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2021, a total of $740.5 billion is allocated to U.S. defense this year. The Pentagon's base budget is $635.5 billion, plus $69 billion for emergency operations abroad and $26.6 billion for national security programs within the U.S. Department of Energy.
And although President Donald Trump vetoed the military budget, it is unlikely that the planned 2021 defense spending in the United States will change dramatically.
Strategic nuclear Forces
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) intends to continue to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal, including the development of the W93 warhead, while improving the management of the nuclear weapons life cycle process. The NNSA continues to maintain an appropriately sized intercontinental missile force to deter large-scale strategic attacks and does not impose any additional restrictions on test capabilities.
Spending on nuclear weapons in the United States will grow by 18% compared to 2020.
In particular, $1.173 billion is allocated for ballistic missiles for Trident II MODS submarines (purchase and maintenance in a state of combat readiness).
Ground forces
In the field of combat operations in land theaters, the Law on Appropriations for fiscal year 2021 provides for the development of a long-range high-precision fire system and integrated air and missile defense, including high-precision strike missiles, hypersonic missiles, and high-energy lasers.
The budget also includes the construction of 60 UH-60L/M/V Blackhawk helicopters, 50 AH-64E Arach and 6 MH-47G Ghinook helicopters.
In particular, the total budget for the purchase of aircraft (helicopters, UAVs, related equipment) for the US Army in 2021 provides for $3,219 billion, for the purchase of guided missiles (M-SHORAD, MSE missile, Hellfire, Javelin, Patriot, ATACMS, etc.) - $3,451 billion, for the purchase of armored combat vehicles (Stryker upgrade, Bradley, M109, M1 Abrams tank (mod), etc.) and other weapons for land forces - $3.840 billion, ammunition - $2.869 billion.
United States Air Force
In 2021, 93 Joint Strike Fighter (F-35) aircraft will be purchased in the amount of $9.1 billion, which is 14 aircraft more than the budget of the US president. This number includes the use of six F-35 aircraft that were intended for Turkey before Ankara was excluded from the F-35 program.
Currently, F-35 fighters are exported to Australia, South Korea, Japan, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Poland. Now Finland, Singapore, Greece and the United Arab Emirates are joining the list of these countries.
Just at the moment of 500 manufactured and delivered the F-35 to modify the F-35A aircraft are 354, to modify the F-35B - 108 aircraft, and modification F-35C - 38 aircraft. Of the 500 aircraft, 353 were delivered to the US armed forces and 147 to foreign customers.
In 2021, purchases of the MQ-9 Reaper UAV ("Reaper") will be increased by $108 million and 16 more devices will be added to the previously ordered ones. Earlier, the US Department of Defense signed a contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) for the production of MQ-9 UAVs for $7.4 billion.
Next year, the USAF WTA will receive seven more C-130J aircraft for further modernization of the fleet of military transport aircraft.
US Navy
In 2021, the US Navy will receive nine warships, including one additional Virginia-class submarine, one additional expeditionary fast transport and one less landing ship (LPD-31, previously authorized by Congress) compared to the budget request of the US President.
Virginia-class submarines are fourth-generation multi-purpose submarines of the US Navy. Submarines of this class are designed to combat submarines of a potential enemy at depth and for coastal operations. In addition to the standard armament, the boat also has equipment for special operations-uninhabited underwater vehicles, an airlock for light divers, a deck mount for a container or an ultra-small submarine.
$4.620 billion is allocated for these submarines in the 2021 budget.
The ship can accommodate up to 1,687 Marine soldiers, and can serve as an aircraft carrier for the latest F-35B Joint Strike Fighter, MV-22 Ospreys convertiplanes, and Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallions heavy transport and amphibious helicopters.
In 2021, the Navy aviation will receive eight more P-8 Poseidon aircraft to continue the modernization of anti-submarine weapons.
Among other things, the U.S. Navy's 2021 budget provides contract authority for two Columbia-class nuclear-powered missile submarines, three San Antonio-class amphibious assault ships, and one America-class amphibious assault ship.
In particular, for the purchase of combat aircraft and helicopters for the Navy, it is planned to allocate: F/A-18E/F Hornet - $1.725 billion, Joint Strike Fighter CV - $2.371 billion, Joint Strike Fighter CV AP - $330 million, JSF STOVL - $1.075 billion, V-22 (medium lift) - $1.121 billion, E-2D ADV Hawkeye - $611 million, MQ-4 Triton - $244 million etc. In total, $18.545 billion is allocated for the purchase of aircraft for the Navy.
For military shipbuilding in general, in the budget of 2021, $23.409 billion is allocated.
The fight against transnational threats
While the US National Defense Strategy prioritizes strategic competition as the main security issue of the American state, the US faces numerous complex threats, including, the document states, from terrorist organizations around the world.
To counter these threats, the 2021 budget expands and strengthens powers designed to support the capabilities of America's international counterterrorism partners so that the United States can focus more on National Defense Strategy priorities.
The 2021 military budget continues to support Iraqi security forces, vetted Syrian groups, and other U.S. "counterterrorism partners." It also prohibits the use of funds to provide weapons or any form of support to Al-Qaeda (an organization banned in Russia), the Islamic State (IS), Al-Shabaab (the latter is part of Al-Qaeda, all three organizations are banned in Russia), the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (an elite military-political formation of Iran) and other organizations.
In addition, the budget requires more detailed information for future years regarding the activities of the US Department of Defense to defeat ISIS and "counter the malicious behavior" of Iran.
Mikhail Khodarenok
