DefenceTalkThe Air Force presented its fiscal year 2017 president’s budget request Feb. 9 following the Defense Department and sister services’ budget briefings. Maj. Gen. Jim Martin, the Air Force budget director, presented the service’s budget request and said the fiscal 2017 budget request supports the defense strategy, resources combatant commander requirements, continues readiness recovery from […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-air-force-presents-fiscal-year-2017-budget-66694/

DefenceTalkU.S. military forces are facing demands that were not anticipated in the development of current strategy and budgets, according to a new RAND Corporation report. As a result, the posture and capability of U.S. forces are not keeping pace with the challenges posed by America’s most-capable adversaries, researchers say. If policymakers wish to maintain the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-boost-defense-funding-or-limit-military-commitments-65666/

DefenceTalkThe government of the Netherlands is following through on an earlier pledge to commit a EUR100 million ($112 million) real-term increase to the defense budget on an annual basis with an earmark of an extra EUR220 million ($248 million) under its fiscal year 2016 budget. With the country’s current inflation rate around 0.8 percent the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/dutch-government-plans-to-bolster-defense-spending-in-2016-65440/

DefenceTalkGermany’s Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen has urged NATO states to adhere to the two-percent target for military spending. She was speaking on the 60th anniversary of West Germany joining the alliance. Speaking in Berlin on Tuesday, von der Leyen warned the NATO members against fixating purely on the target of spending two percent […]https://www.defencetalk.com/german-minister-calls-for-more-nato-defense-spending-64764/

DefenceTalkThe Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense on June 9 approved its FY16 Defense Appropriations Bill, which recommends funding increases to improve the readiness of the Armed Forces and makes significant investments to sustain U.S. force structure. The measure, which is scheduled to be considered by the full Committee on Thursday, June 11, recommends $489.1 billion […]https://www.defencetalk.com/fy16-us-defense-appropriations-bill-cleared-by-senate-subcommittee-64455/

DefenceTalkThe 2015 Budget is part of the Commonwealth Government’s plan to build a strong, safe and prosperous future for all Australians. The first responsibility of Government is to keep our people safe in an uncertain world. In the 2015 Budget, the Government will continue to make a significant investment in the safety and security of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/australia-boost-defence-spending-in-2015-budget-64152/

DefenceTalkSweden will raise defence spending by 10.2 billion kronor (1.09 billion euros, $1.18 billion) for the period 2016 to 2020, the government said Friday amid concerns over Russia’s military resurgence. “The agreement sends a signal, internationally, that Sweden is reacting to the security situation in the world, that Sweden is a guarantor for peace and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/sweden-raises-defence-budget-amid-russia-concerns-63898/

DefenceTalkMilitary spending increased sharply in 2014 in China and Russia and the Ukraine conflict prompted eastern European countries to boost their defence programs, according to a study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released Monday. The United States remains the world’s biggest spender on defence, but it spent 6.4 percent less year-on-year in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-russia-and-eastern-europe-boost-defence-spending-study-63848/

DefenceTalkThe Army’s vice chief of staff said the $613 billion Overseas Contingency Operations, or OCO, funding does not allow the Army the flexibility required to get at home-station readiness for units that are not deploying. Gen. Daniel B. Allyn testified before the House Armed Services subcommittee on readiness, March 25. “It also does not allow […]https://www.defencetalk.com/allyn-army-needs-predictable-consistent-funding-to-get-at-readiness-63685/

DefenceTalkChina dismissed Japanese concerns about its defence spending as “ridiculous” on Thursday after Tokyo commissioned its biggest-ever helicopter carrier. Both sides are boosting their military budgets as they grow increasingly wary of each other’s ambitions in the Asia-Pacific region, facing off over a maritime territorial dispute and how to interpret Japan’s motivations and actions during […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-hits-out-at-japan-over-defence-spending-worries-63666/