{"id":48491,"date":"2026-04-21T18:58:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T18:58:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2026\/04\/21\/pentagon-seeks-funds-for-golden-dome-drones-ai-in-largest-ever-budget-request\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T17:34:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T17:34:06","slug":"pentagon-seeks-funds-for-golden-dome-drones-ai-in-largest-ever-budget-request","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/pentagon\/2026\/04\/21\/pentagon-seeks-funds-for-golden-dome-drones-ai-in-largest-ever-budget-request\/","title":{"rendered":"Pentagon seeks funds for Golden Dome, drones, AI in largest-ever budget request"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Department of Defense on Tuesday unveiled a $1.5 trillion budget proposal<\/a> for fiscal 2027 \u2014 a 42% year-over-year increase and the most expensive military outlay in modern history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re facing one of the most complex and dangerous threat environments in our nation\u2019s 250-year history,\u201d Jules J. Hurst III, the under secretary of war and chief financial officer, told reporters at a briefing at the Pentagon. \u201cOur adversaries are rapidly advancing capabilities across every warfighting domain: in the air, land, sea, space and cyberspace, while years of underinvestment has strained our industrial base.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a generational investment in the United States military,\u201d Hurst added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to officials, President Donald Trump\u2019s key priorities include investments in the \u201cGolden Dome\u201d \u2014 a multi-layered defensive shield intended to safeguard the American homeland \u2014 as well as in drone warfare, artificial intelligence, data infrastructure, and the defense industrial base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the proposal, each branch of the military would receive a substantial increase in funding, with appropriations rising by 33.6% for the Air Force, 24.3% for the Navy and 23.9% for the Army. The framework also sets out pay raises for service members<\/a>, depending on rank, ranging from 5 to 7%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In line with the president\u2019s ambition to construct a \u201cGolden Fleet\u201d<\/a> \u2014 an expanded Navy with a new line of Trump-class battleships as its centerpiece \u2014 more than $65 billion would be allocated to procure 18 warships and 16 support ships. This represents the largest shipbuilding request since 1962, officials said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to the evolving battlefield, the Pentagon is slated to make an unprecedented commitment to drones and the systems designed to counter them. $53.6 billion would be earmarked for autonomous drone platforms and contested logistics, while another $21 billion would be reserved for munitions, counter-drone technologies and advanced systems like the Collaborative Combat Aircraft and MQ-25. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The department is also seeking to commit $64.5 billion toward developing next-generation munitions systems, including missiles, armored vehicles and helicopters. The package encompasses systems such as Patriot and THAAD interceptors<\/a>, Precision Strike Missiles and the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\t