Commitment reflects a major boost to an effort started under Obama to upgrade ageing systems
The Pentagon in Washington, US, is seen from aboard Air Force One on March 29, 2018. File photo: REUTERS/YURI GRIPAS
The commitment includes research, development, procurement, sustainment and operations. It reflects a major boost to an effort started under former president Barack Obama to replace ageing nuclear systems, such as Minuteman III missiles and command and control systems. Congressional Democrats have been generally supportive of increased nuclear weapons spending, but defence secretary Mark Esper is likely to be questioned about the size and scope of the five-year plan when he testifies before the house armed services committee on Wednesday.
The defence department’s five-year plan on nuclear programmes calls for $29bn for fiscal 2021, $30bn in 2022 and $33bn in 2023, before jumping to $37bn in 2024 and $38bn in 2025. The plan includes $25bn for research and procurement, but not support and operations for, the new Columbia-class intercontinental ballistic missile submarine that begins construction this year, $24bn for improved nuclear command and control and $23bn for the air force’s B-21 bomber.
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