Pentagon’s FY2026 budget reflects a shift toward missile stockpiling, drone investment, and hypersonic arms as global threats reshape U.S. defence priorities.
The Pentagon’s FY2026 defence budget proposal, totalling $892.6 billion, highlights a strategic pivot toward air and missile defence systems, hypersonic weapons, and unmanned platforms. A centrepiece of the plan is the U.S. Army’s sharp increase in PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptor procurement, with its acquisition target soaring from 3,376 to 13,773—surpassing all prior PATRIOT missile purchases combined.
While cutting legacy assets such as the entire A-10 Warthog fleet and reducing naval civilian workforce by over 7,000, the budget maintains troop-focused spending with a 3.8% pay raise. However, procurement for ships and fighter jets is reduced, including just 47 F-35s—down from 68 in the previous administration’s FY2025 request. This downgrade was already public but became official now.
The U.S. Air Force is also reviving its hypersonic ambitions. It requests $387.1 million to begin production of the AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), transitioning it from prototype to acquisition despite past setbacks. ARRW, developed by Lockheed Martin, had faced cancellation in FY2025 due to test failures but has regained support under Gen. David Allvin’s leadership.
Parallelly, $802.8 million is allocated to continue the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) programme by Raytheon. HACM is expected to enter flight testing in FY2026, with five tests planned ahead of rapid fielding in FY2027.
Overall, the Department of Defense seeks over $3.9 billion in FY2026 for hypersonic systems across services. This includes fielding the Army’s first operational Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (Dark Eagle) and advancing the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike system.
The budget also reflects lessons from the Ukraine conflict, increasing investments in FPVs and autonomous platforms for low-cost yet effective operations. Meanwhile, the controversial “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, passed by the Republican-led House, proposes an extra $25 billion to support President Trump’s Golden Dome missile shield initiative.
Author: Özgür Ekşi
