US Navy submits record $377.5bn funding request for fiscal 2027

The US Department of the Navy has submitted a $377.5bn budget request for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27), representing a $70bn, or 23% increase compared to the previous year.

The proposal is part of President Donald Trump’s $1.5tn national defence budget submission to Congress earlier this month.

The request allocates $65.8bn towards shipbuilding, supporting the acquisition of 34 new ships.

This will include one Columbia-class submarine, two Virginia-class submarines, one FF(X) frigate, one Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, one America-class amphibious assault ship, one San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, six medium landing ships, two John Lewis-class tankers, two submarine tender replacements, and one ocean surveillance ship.

The department also proposed continuing incremental funding for two Ford-class carriers, CVN 80 and CVN 81, and included support for developing the BB(X) large surface combatant.

For aircraft procurement, the US Navy has earmarked $34.4bn to purchase 123 aircraft, such as 47 F-35s, 12 P-8As, six E-2Ds, 22 CH-53Ks, three MQ-25s, and five MQ-9As.

Funding will also go towards modifications, spares, and support equipment. According to the Department, this will double F-35 procurement and quicken aircraft acquisition.

The budget sets aside $22.6bn for weapons procurement, investing in munitions including Standard Missiles, Tactical Tomahawk Missiles, and Patriot PAC-3s.

On the ground side, the US Marine Corps has requested $6.3bn for equipment to support fleets, which will provide 32 Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) Launchers and 103 Naval Strike Missiles (NSM).

Investments also cover 42 Marine Air Defense Integrated Systems (MADIS), 16 Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) systems, and 410 missiles for air defence in complex environments.

For operations and maintenance, the Department requested $150bn for improving platform readiness with a target of reaching 80% surge capacity for combat operations.

Funds will go to training, deployment, and flight hours, aiming to reduce maintenance delays and enhance the overall preparedness of personnel.

The Department is allocating $36.2bn for research and development to bolster readiness in strategic deterrence and air and maritime warfare, while advancing technologies to counter emerging threats.

Personnel funding accounts for $70.1bn, covering a military force of 621,500 Sailors and Marines.

An additional $2.5bn is earmarked for quality-of-life improvements, including housing, dining, and child and youth programmes for service members and their families.

Naval Operations chief admiral Daryl Caudle said: “The FY27 budget request is a definitive order to shift our Navy from a peacetime posture to a warfighting footing.”