Tomahawk, AGM-158B JASSM-ER, AIM-120 AMRAAM, GMLRS, JDAM and Hellfire - Pentagon asks for billions of dollars to buy missiles

Over the weekend, we wrote that the US Department of Defense will ask Congress for $4.311 billion for missile purchases in fiscal year 2024. More details have emerged today, according to which the Pentagon wants to spend almost twice as much.

Here's What We Know

The US Department of Defence is hoping to get more than $8bn for the 2024 fiscal year to buy missiles. And for some items, the amount will roughly double from fiscal year 2023.

In particular, the Pentagon wants to spend $1.8 billion against $902 million for the purchase of 550 AGM-158B JASSM-ER air-to-air missiles by Lockheed Martin. These can hit targets at ranges up to 925km. The budget for the purchase of 125 RIM-174 missiles for the US Navy ($1.6 billion versus $799 million) and 118 AGM-158C LRASM missiles ($1 billion versus $550 million) may also be roughly doubled.

Other offers can be found below. The amount in brackets is the amount that was approved by the US Congress for fiscal year 2023.

• $161 million for 48 JSM missiles (first purchase);
• $1.2 billion for 830 AIM-12 AMRAAM missiles ($740 million);
• $386 million for 1,165 AGM-179 JAGM missiles ($297 million);
• $447 million for 1,170 SDB II bombs ($555 million);
• $1 billion for 5,064 high-precision 5064 GMLRS projectiles ($1.3 billion);
• $934 million for 34 Tomahawk missiles ($905 million);
• $206 million for 3,236 JDAM smart bombs ($328 million);
• $30 million for 40 Hellfire missiles ($116 million).

Source: Defence News