B-52 nuclear bombers, Zumwalt hypersonic destroyers, Virginia submarines and 29 other major weapons programs have gained $37bn in two years

The Pentagon is facing delays in many weapons programmes. But this is not the only problem for the US Department of Defence.

Here's What We Know

Spending on 32 key programs has increased by tens of billions of dollars over the past two years. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has come to this conclusion.

A total of 101 Department of Defense weapons programs were reviewed by GAO staff. These include modernization of the B-52 Stratofortress nuclear bomber, development of a long-range Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) for HIMARS, as well as production of Virginia-class submarines and creation of a new generation spacecraft for the U.S. Space Force.

More than half of the 26 major defence procurement programmes that have not yet reached operational capability have reported new delays. Key reasons were supply disruptions, delays in software development and poor quality control.

The net cost of 32 major defence procurement programmes increased by $37bn year-on-year, due to higher modernisation costs, manufacturing inefficiencies and supply chain problems.

We wrote earlier that Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines would arrive two years later than planned. Also, the US Navy might face a delay in integrating hypersonic missiles on Zumwalt-class destroyers.

The U.S. Air Force also has problems. For example, deliveries of F-15EX Eagle II fighters are delayed by at least six months. The KC-46A Pegasus and Air Force One (VC-25B) programmes have also been delayed. The T-7A Red Hawk training aircraft is "late" by more than two years, and this is not the limit.

The Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile is due to reach initial operational capability in 2030.

The cost of the program is estimated at $96 billion. The missile will be a replacement for the Minuteman III and will remain in service for several decades.

Source: Breaking Defense