Pentagon unveils $1.5 trillion defence blueprint in historic spending leap

The Pentagon on Tuesday, April 21, released additional details of President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defence budget for fiscal year 2027, outlining what officials describe as the largest year-over-year increase in military spending since the end of World War II.

The request represents a 42 per cent rise in Defence Department funding compared to the previous year. Pentagon officials said the proposal introduces a new category labelled “presidential priorities,” allocating $750 billion toward key initiatives, including the Golden Dome missile defence system, drone capabilities, artificial intelligence, and expansion of the defence industrial base.

Jules “Jay” Hurst, performing the duties of Pentagon comptroller, said the plan would constitute “the largest investment in military capabilities in over a generation.” He emphasised that the budget prioritises strengthening homeland defence and maintaining military superiority through investments in missile defence, drone dominance, and space capabilities. The proposal includes nearly doubling the budget for the US Space Force and tripling spending on drone and counter-drone technologies.

By comparison, the White House requested just over $892 billion for defence in the previous fiscal year, a figure that exceeded $1 trillion after an additional $150 billion supplemental package was added.

To reach the proposed $1.5 trillion total, the administration plans to secure $350 billion through the reconciliation process, with the remaining $1.15 trillion forming the base defence budget under the upcoming National Defence Authorisation Act.

The budget includes $102 billion for aircraft procurement and research and development, along with nearly $75 billion dedicated to drones, counter-drone systems, and related technologies. Another $65 billion is earmarked for naval expansion, including the construction of 18 Navy warships and 16 support vessels as part of what officials call the “Golden Fleet” initiative.

Within aviation programs, the Pentagon is seeking funding to procure 85 F-35 fighter jets annually, while also advancing next-generation systems such as the F-47 fighter and the B-21 bomber.

One of the most significant increases in the proposal is $54.6 billion allocated to the Defence Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG), a dramatic rise from just under $226 million the previous year. The bulk of this funding is expected to support research and development, making it the largest single-year increase for any defence program or office in the request.

The proposal also calls for expanding multiyear procurement contracts for munitions to as long as seven years, a move officials say is intended to stabilise supply chains and encourage long-term industrial investment.

Domestic security priorities are also reflected in the budget, with $2.3 billion allocated to sustain military operations and personnel deployed along the southern US border as part of the administration’s efforts to curb unlawful crossings.

Service members would receive pay increases under the plan, with junior enlisted personnel slated for a 7 per cent raise, mid-level ranks receiving a 6 per cent increase, and senior ranks seeing a 5 per cent boost.

In addition, the Pentagon aims to expand the size of the armed forces by 44,000 personnel to ensure sufficient manpower to operate new systems, improve readiness, and enhance quality of life by maintaining properly staffed units. This follows the addition of more than 20,000 service members in fiscal year 2026.

The proposed budget does not include funding for the ongoing conflict with Iran, as it was drafted prior to the start of hostilities, Hurst noted. He added that the Pentagon has not yet determined the cost of repairing US military bases and facilities in the Middle East that were damaged during the conflict.

“It’s not reflected in the fiscal 2027 request,” Hurst said, explaining that future decisions about force posture and infrastructure in the region could reshape how bases are designed and constructed. “We have to assess what our posture should be in the Middle East and what we want to build going forward,” he added.

Separately, President Trump is expected to seek between $80 billion and $100 billion in supplemental funding from Congress to cover operations related to Iran. The conflict, which began on February 28, is currently under a ceasefire that Trump extended on Tuesday to allow time for negotiations with Tehran.

By Tamilla Hasanova