By Franz-Stefan Gady
The Pentagon wants to spend more money to offset Anti-Area/Access-Denial (A2/AD) technologies.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is seeking $71.8 billion in its fiscal year (FY) 2017 budget request for research and development, including $3.6 billion dedicated to war-gaming and testing the Pentagon’s so-called third offset strategy developed to help maintain U.S. military superiority over peer competitors such as China and Russia.
According to information obtained by Defense News, the Pentagon has dedicated $18 billion in its Future Years Defense Program (FYDP) to researching and developing third offset technologies and operational concepts in the years to come.
Money allocated includes $3 billion on researching Anti-Area/Access-Denial (A2/AD) technologies, $3 billion on submarine and undersea challenges, $3 billion on human-machine collaboration and teaming, $1.7 billion on cyber and electronic warfare, $500 million on guided munitions challenges, and $500 million on wargaming and the testing of third offset operational concepts.
With $71.8 billion, the FY 2017 budget request is just four percent higher than the $69 million allocated for research and development in FY 2016. U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work already cautioned in December 2015 not to expect a massive increase in funds allocated towards third offset technologies and operational concepts.
Read the full story at The Diplomat