The Army has sent lawmakers a $2.2 billion unfunded priority list for FY25, while US Central Command says it would happily funnel an additional $450 million towards regional security.
"They're trying to get what they want. They're trying to replace the West and, moreover, the United States in our access and influence across this crucial continent," US Africa Command chief Gen. Michael Langley told lawmakers.
As Stockholm plots its way forward, Saab CEO Micael Johansson had called for such a study in a previous interview with Breaking Defense.
"We’re already making good progress on the design and development of the next generation submarine in the UK, where we have more than 1,000 people working on the SSN-AUKUS program and major infrastructure investment underway," BAE Systems CEO Charles Woodburn said.
The bipartisan spending package, released early this morning, increases defense funding by $27 billion over the previous year’s enacted budget and includes a number of key provisions the department had requested.
"Rheinmetall didn't build a Boxer factory in Australia as an act of charity. They did it because we paid them to do it," Marcus Hellyer, an Australian defense acquisition expert, told Breaking Defense. "That gives them the capacity to now build stuff for Germany and that will mean that there will be jobs in Australia."
Roberto Cingolani appeared to question UK secrecy, suggesting London has been unwilling to share how it will contribute to developing GCAP system of systems-type aircraft and technology.
US Southern Command laid out 20 different unfunded budget priorities for fiscal year 2025 in a 28-page list sent to Congress and obtained by Breaking Defense.
James Cartlidge also described a tweak to the acquisition process for high-tech platforms that allow military tech experts to play "failsafe watchdog."
"The proposed sale will improve Bahrain’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing a credible force that can deter adversaries and provide the capability to participate in regional operations with the United States and other U.S. partner nations," the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.
In this op-ed, Kateryna Bondar argues coproduction in NATO countries could help Ukraine receive the defense materiel it needs while providing benefits to the host countries.
"So that's one thing I would encourage the [Australian] government to do, is be transparent as possible on what the plans ahead are so industry can can respond and be ready," Northrop Grumman executive Tom Wears said.
Judith Collins, New Zealand’s Minister of Defence, tells Breaking Defense that no matter what happens with AUKUS, her government is "looking at as much interoperability" as possible with Australia.
Sen. Jack Reed told reporters that should the bill fail, he would look to busting the price cap on next year's defense authorization legislation.
A precise cost for the submarines was not provided, but the Ministry of Defense told parliamentarians in a letter that the "investment budget" is €5.6 billion ($6.1 billion).