Most expensive US military weapons and programs

FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP // Getty Images With tax season fast approaching, many Americans are wondering where all the revenue collected by the federal government goes. A good portion of that money will be put toward national defense, which in the popular consciousness usually pertains to weapons and military programs, but in our present era also includes elements such as cybersecurity and climate change. The national defense budget for 2023 was approved at $816.7 billion, an amount even higher than the request of $773 billion submitted in the budget proposed in March 2022. This is a marked increase over the $715 billion requested the previous year. Expenditures as outlined within the Defense Department’s budget run the gamut from updating and modernizing existing military equipment to ensuring adequate pay for personnel, nuclear security, and missile defense, to disease response preparedness and cyberspace activities. Events over the last year, such as ongoing COVID-19 pandemic-related measures and tensions with nations such as China and Russia, have exacerbated what the federal government sees as a need for increased defense spending. Staying ahead of threats both foreign and domestic requires massive resources in a rapidly evolving world of technological, social, and environmental changes. Using data from the Department of Defense’s Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Proposal as submitted on Mar. 28, 2022, Stacker ranked the most expensive military weapons and programs. This budget was signed into law on Dec. 23, 2022. You may also like: Military medals and what they mean #23. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Ballistic Missile Defense The U.S. Army/Ralph Scott/Missile Defense Agency/U.S. Department of Defense // Wikimedia Commons – 2023 Department of Defense budget investment: $335.0 million – Quantity proposed: not available – Type of weapon or program: Missile Defeat and Defense Those who grew up during the Cold War years remember the ever-looming specter of missile attacks. Unfortunately, missile attacks are as much a concern as ever, so the Department of Defense has sunk a sizable sum into a system to intercept and destroy enemy missiles in the atmosphere before they can strike their intended targets. #22. Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles Black Jack, USAOTC complete testing of new Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle at army.mil/Author Photo Credit: Maj. Carson Petry (1st CAV) // Wikimedia Commons – 2023 Department of Defense budget investment: $381.0 million – Quantity proposed: 72 – Type of weapon or program: Combat Effective Ground Forces The rough and reliable M113 armored personnel carrier has served our nation since 1960. Yet all things must modernize to fit a changing world, and with many M113s in service being sent to Ukraine, the U.S. Army is looking to reinforce its armored vehicle fleet with the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle. Like the venerable M113, this vehicle will still serve primarily as an armored troop transport, but will also be available to fill roles as mission command, medical vehicles, and artillery carriers. #21. Building Pandemic Preparedness BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP // Getty Images – 2023 Department of Defense budget investment: $468.0 million – Quantity proposed: not available – Type of weapon or program: Building Pandemic Preparedness While the United States has long been at the forefront of disease research and prevention with institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 rocked the way many people view disease and infection preparedness worldwide. Consequently, there has been an increase in spending in the field of biological defense, which not only combats the use of bioweapons, but also the threat presented by naturally occurring and transmittable infections, the likes of which are being combated by vaccine development and pathogen containment. #20. Amphibious Combat Vehicles The Mariner 4291 // Shutterstock – 2023 Department of Defense budget investment: $631.0 million – Quantity proposed: 74 – Type of weapon or program: Combat Effective Ground Forces The Amphibious Combat Vehicle is intended to replace the Amphibious Assault Vehicle that has served for over four decades. While the AAV is a tracked vehicle, the ACV is wheeled and designed to travel faster. The program was paused for 10 months after a fatal training incident in 2020, but the ACV is on track (no pun intended) to replace the remaining AAVs by 2026. #19. PATRIOT Advanced Capability – 3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP // Getty Images – 2023 Department of Defense budget investment: $1.0 billion – Quantity proposed: not available – Type of weapon or program: Missile Defeat and Defense The PATRIOT Advanced Capability 3 missile system is another missile defense system, but this one is a mobile surface-to-air platform capable of intercepting shorter-range missiles and rockets aimed at critical targets or personnel as opposed to intercontinental ballistic missiles. A new development named Missile Segment Enhancement will give the existing platforms increased responsiveness and guidance controls and expand operational abilities. You may also like: 50 best movies about the Vietnam War #18. Joint Light Tactical Vehicles Sebastian Saarloos // Wikimedia Commons – 2023 Department of Defense budget investment: $1.1 billion – Quantity proposed: 3721 – Type of weapon or program: Combat Effective Ground Forces Even with the increased role of technology in warfare, a great share of the fighting will still require troops on the ground. Effective ground-based forces require mobility, so Oshkosh Defense is providing the armed forces with the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle to replace a portion of the Humvees that have been in service for several decades. And no, the people riding in them will not be wearing kids’ overalls. #17. Frigate (FFG-62) U.S. Navy graphic/Released // Wikimedia Commons – 2023 Department of Defense budget investment: $1.3 billion – Quantity proposed: 1 – Type of weapon or program: Modernized Naval Forces The Navy is looking to modernize its fleet with the commission of 20 frigates to use as guided missile ships. In 2020, the project was formally named FFG-62 and designated as the Constellation Class with the goal of having the first ship seaborne by 2026. #16. Launch Vehicles – National Security Space Launch (NSSL) and Rocket System Launch Program (RSLP)