Indo-Pacific equities in the FY26 HACD bill
EXPERIENCE, NOT OPINION
$833B
INDO-PACIFIC
DETERRENCE
FY2025 House Appropriations Committee Defense Report - Comprehensive Analysis
The House Appropriations Committee Defense FY2025 report (H.Rept. 118-557) authorizes $833.053 billion in total defense appropriations, with Indo-Pacific deterrence as the strategic priority. INDOPACOM submitted an unprecedented $11 billion unfunded priorities list - the largest among all combatant commands - representing 42% of all unfunded requirements. Major investments focus on submarine construction, advanced aviation, missile systems, and regional force posture enhancements to counter China's growing military capabilities.
MAJOR SHIPBUILDING PROGRAMS
$36.9B Total Naval Shipbuilding Appropriations
Columbia-Class Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBN-826)
NAVY'S TOP ACQUISITION PRIORITY
The Navy's top acquisition priority receives substantial funding despite schedule delays. Critical to maintaining continuous sea-based strategic deterrent.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Virginia-Class Attack Submarines (SSN-774)
CRITICAL CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS
Critical capacity constraints plague the program with production falling below required rates, impacting AUKUS commitments.
PRODUCTION CHALLENGES
Submarine Industrial Base Investment
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Congress recognizes critical industrial capacity gaps requiring immediate investment to achieve strategic production goals.
INVESTMENT BREAKDOWN
Surface Fleet Programs
| Program | Quantity | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Arleigh Burke Flight III DDG | 2 ships | Funded |
| Constellation-class Frigates | Reduced | Below Request |
| San Antonio-class LPD | 1 ship | Funded |
| Ship Retirement Prohibitions | Multiple | USS Lake Erie, Select LCS |
AVIATION PROGRAMS
Next-generation air superiority investments
F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter
LARGEST FIGHTER PROCUREMENT
Largest fighter procurement in the budget with significant increases across all variants to maintain air superiority.
AIRCRAFT PROCUREMENT
F/A-XX NGAD
6TH GENERATION FIGHTER
R&D funding increase for sixth-generation fighter development to counter peer adversaries in contested Pacific airspace.
F-15EX
ADVANCED EAGLE
18 aircraft procurement for enhanced air superiority capabilities.
B-21 Raider
STRATEGIC BOMBER
Next-generation stealth bomber for long-range strike capability.
KC-46A Pegasus
AERIAL REFUELING
15 tanker aircraft for extended Pacific operational reach.
C-130J Super Hercules
TACTICAL AIRLIFT
8 additional aircraft for Air National Guard.
E-7 Wedgetail
EARLY WARNING
R&D for E-3 AWACS replacement.
PACIFIC DETERRENCE INITIATIVE
Comprehensive regional deterrence investments
FY2025 PDI Investment
COUNTER-CHINA PRIORITY
Congressional enhancement of $1.9 billion above President's request specifically for counter-China initiatives.
- ▸ Infrastructure resilience improvements
- ▸ Allied capacity building programs
- ▸ Enhanced regional force posture
- ▸ 180-day comprehensive effectiveness assessment required
INDOPACOM Unfunded Priorities List
LARGEST AMONG ALL COMBATANT COMMANDS
Unprecedented unfunded requirements representing 42% of all combatant command needs.
REGIONAL FORCE POSTURE
Strategic infrastructure and presence investments
Guam Military Buildup
STRATEGIC HUB
- ▸ Infrastructure: $600M above budget request
- ▸ Guam Defense System: $181M
- ▸ Marine relocation from Okinawa (DPRI)
- ▸ Completion targeted for 2025
Japan Infrastructure
ALLIANCE CORNERSTONE
YOKOTA AIR BASE PROJECTS
Korea/Camp Humphreys
LARGEST ARMY GARRISON IN ASIA
Multi-year transformation creating largest U.S. Army garrison in Asia, serving as USFK headquarters south of Han River.
Taiwan Security Cooperation
URGENT DEFENSE SUPPORT
- ▸ Increase of $92M above FY2024
- ▸ 45-day deadline for defense articles description
- ▸ Accelerated delivery timelines
- ▸ Enhanced training programs
WEAPONS SYSTEMS & MUNITIONS
Long-range precision strike capabilities
Missile Programs
INTEGRATED AIR & MISSILE DEFENSE
KEY SYSTEMS
Long-Range Strike Capabilities
JASSM/LRASM PRODUCTION
- ▸ JASSM production: 224 missiles FY2025, ramping to 360/year
- ▸ JASSM-D variant: 1,200-mile range with 2,000-pound warhead
- ▸ Production capacity: 1,000 missiles annually by Lockheed Martin
- ▸ Total contract value: $5.2B multi-year procurement
Hypersonic Weapons Development
ADVANCED STRIKE SYSTEMS
PROGRAM STATUS
DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT
Critical materials and industrial base expansion
Critical Materials Investment - $117M+
| Investment Area | Company/Program | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semiconductors | 5N+ Corporation | $14.4M | Germanium substrates |
| Lithium | Lithium Nevada Corp | $11.8M | Critical battery materials |
| Workforce | Montana Tech | $6.56M | Technical training |
| Strategic Minerals | Canadian suppliers | $14.8M | Rare earth elements |
| Munitions | Multiple | $29.8B | FY2025 production |
Additional focus areas: Printed circuit boards (Presidential determination), Microelectronics domestic expansion, Supply chain independence from China
ISR & INNOVATION
Advanced capabilities for contested environments
INDOPACOM ISR Requirements
CRITICAL CAPABILITY GAP
- ▸ 30-day assessment required
- ▸ Commercial vs. government ISR
- ▸ PRC activity stressing capacity
Space Domain Awareness
MULTI-DOMAIN OPERATIONS
- ▸ Space Forces Indo-Pacific
- ▸ Army MIGS: $5.9M
- ▸ Classified sensors: $701M
- ▸ PMTEC: $194M training
Innovation Programs
RAPID TECHNOLOGY FIELDING
OPERATIONAL READINESS
Pacific Fleet operations and sustainment
Key Operational Investments
Asia Pacific Regional Initiative
$8.132MTheater security cooperation and engagement activities
Enterprise IT Network
$10MINDOPACOM mobile virtual network operations
Strategic Mobility
$567.4MCritical air and sealift capabilities for Pacific distances
Army Prepositioned Stocks
$405.7MForward-positioned equipment and supplies
Joint Task Force Micronesia
$25MEnhanced presence in strategic Pacific island chains
CONGRESSIONAL MANDATES
Required reports and timeline
INDOPACOM ISR requirements briefing on capability shortfalls and commercial integration options
Taiwan urgent defense articles description and delivery timeline report
Indo-Pacific ammunition manufacturing facility feasibility study update
Air Force Reserve Indo-Pacific logistics assessment for strategic mobility
PDI effectiveness and budgeting criteria comprehensive report to Congress
Program Restrictions
- ▸ Pacific Fleet structure: No modification of command relationships
- ▸ Submarine production: Minimum one Columbia-class annually
- ▸ Ship retirements: Specific vessels prohibited from early decommissioning
Conservative estimate of direct Indo-Pacific focused funding within the $833.053 billion defense appropriation, representing the highest priority for deterring China and maintaining regional stability. This includes both funded programs and the unprecedented $11 billion unfunded priorities list.
