America's $150B Defence Surge – Strategy, Risks & What $150 Billion Buys in 2025
Sponsored by Odoo – https://www.odoo.com/r/EIa
The years since 2022 have seen record global defence spending but it wasn’t clear whether the new US Government would follow that same trend in 2025 and beyond.
Earlier this week, we got a clue they would, when the Armed Services Committees in Congress put forward a $150 billion package to boost defence spending starting in FY 2025. That is, to be technical about it, a lot of money.
So in this episode we crack open this surge of spending and see what it might tell us about the future of the US military.
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/PerunAU
Reading and Sourcing:
Proposed package (House Armed Services Committee version)
https://armedservices.house.gov/uploadedfiles/bill_text.pdf
HASC section by section overview:
https://armedservices.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hasc_reconcilitation_-_section_by_section.pdf
HASC Overview
https://armedservices.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hasc_reconciliation_overview.pdf
Program Acquisition Cost by Weapon System – United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request
https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/Documents/defbudget/FY2025/FY2025_Weapons.pdf
U.S. estimates on production increase for selected systems since 2022
https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4026238/fact-sheet-on-efforts-of-ukraine-defense-contact-group-national-armaments-direc
US Navy Weapons Procurement 2025
https://www.secnav.navy.mil/fmc/fmb/Documents/25pres/WPN_Book.pdf
https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/Documents/defbudget/FY2025/FY2025_Weapons.pdf
Amphib multi-ship buy
U.S. Navy’s First Ever Multi-Year Amphibious Ship Contract Awarded
Disputing Chinese Sea Control Through Offensive Sea Mining – Commander Victor Duenow, U.S. Navy
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2022/june/disputing-chinese-sea-control-through-offensive-sea-mining
B-52 Quickstrike test
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/06/usaf-b-52-conducts-long-range-offensive-mine-warfare-test/
SIPRI expenditure data
https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2025/unprecedented-rise-global-military-expenditure-european-and-middle-east-spending-surges
Reporting relevant to Aviation component:
https://www.twz.com/air/f-15-eagles-win-big-in-supersized-defense-spending-bill
https://www.twz.com/f-15e-strike-eagle-fleet-to-be-slashed-by-over-half-report
Reporting on the missile component
https://www.twz.com/land/bringing-back-medium-range-ballistic-missiles-fast-tracked-under-proposed-150b-defense-boost
Analysis of 2025 shipbuilding plan – Congressional budget office
https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61155#:~:text=The%20average%20annual%20cost%20of,2024%20plan%20in%20several%20ways.
Reporting on the exercise component
Air Force Exercises in Pacific Could Expand with $622 Million Extra from Congress
HHI Seeks Role in U.S. Fleet Expansion
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/04/south-koreas-hd-hhi-seeks-role-in-u-s-fleet-expansion/
Reporting on AMRAAM production & purchases
Raytheon expands AIM-120 AMRAAM missile production to meet growing international demand
CRS on Dark Eagle
https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IF/PDF/IF11991/IF11991.32.pdf
Russia spending hike
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-hikes-national-defence-spending-by-23-2025-2024-09-30/
Reporting on PRC spending hike
https://apnews.com/article/china-defense-budget-taiwan-4ac7cbdc7d5b889732cd55916ff7eb36
JASSM production acceleration funds
Lockheed Get $122 Million for Gear to Accelerate JASSM and LRASM Production
Reporting on Australian AUKUS funding
https://www.reuters.com/world/australia-makes-500-mln-aukus-payment-ahead-us-defence-secretary-meeting-2025-02-07/
Caveats & Comments:
All normal caveats and comments apply. In particular – I would like to note as always that this material has been created for entertainment purposes and is not intended to be a complete or comprehensive examination of the topic in question and should not be relied upon to inform financial or other similar decisions.
Any content relating to the conduct, views, activities or any aspect of any person or character in this video is included for entertainment purposes and does not represent an assertion of fact on those matters or any matters in relation to that person or character.
Care has been taken in compiling data, quotes, and other inputs from various sources but errors can occur. Quotes and included data should be considered illustrative, not definitive and their veracity should not be relied on.
Timestamps:
0:00:00 — Opening Words
00:01:12 — What Am I Talking About?
00:03:17 — Why This Matters
00:05:58 — The What
00:11:01 — Navy & Shipbuilding
00:22:49 — Munitions
00:34:24 — Air Superiority
00:41:51 — Nuclear Forces
00:50:00 — What Isn’t Here
00:53:08 — Risks & Questions
00:58:44 — Channel Update
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