FEBRUARY, 03, 2015, WASHINGTON (NNS) – The Department of the Navy released its proposed $161.0 billion budget Feb. 2 for fiscal year 2016.
This budget is part of the $534.3 billion defense budget President Barack Obama submitted to Congress on the same day.
Rear Adm. William Lescher, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Budget, briefed media at the Department of Defense budget press conference about the Navy and Marine Corps portion of the budget.
“Our PB16 budget submission balances warfighting readiness with our Nation’s fiscal challenges,” said Lescher. “Our force employment approach aligns capability, capacity and readiness to regional mission demands, ensuring our most modern and technologically advanced forces are located where their combat power is needed most, delivering presence where it matters, when it matters.”
This year’s budget submission was guided by the Chief of Naval Operations’ tenants of warfighting first, operate forward, and be ready. It makes critical investments in people, ships, and innovation, so that the Department of the Navy can execute the Defense Strategy.
The Department of the Navy requested $44.4 billion for procurement, focused on providing stability in the shipbuilding account and keeping the Navy on track to reach 304 ships by FY20. In FY16 the Navy will buy nine new ships, including two Arleigh Burke destroyers, two Virginia-class submarines, three Littoral Combat Ships as well as the first next generation logistics fleet resupply ship, the T-AO(X).
Additionally, this includes fully funding the refueling for the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, and the procurement of a Dock Landing Ship (LPD 28) that Congress provided partial funds for in the FY15 budget. The budget includes a $50.4 billion request for operations and maintenance, reflecting a strong emphasis on restoring stressed readiness as the Navy and Marine Corps team continue to operate forward in a challenging security environment.
This year’s submission includes $17.9 billion for research and development, reflecting the emphasis on developing key capabilities for the future. This increase in research and development funding supports the Navy-Marine Corps team by providing technological advantages against adversaries in all environments and spectrums.
“Overall, the budget presented to Congress for FY16 reflects a balance of investments guided by the Quadrennial Defense Review strategy and Combatant Commander requirements across capacity, capability and readiness,” said Lescher. “Across the full scope of the request, a strong focus on innovation and reform provided the foundation for maximizing the value of resources invested and sustaining our warfighting edge.”
To view the proposed FY16 DoN budget documents, visit http://www.finance.hq.navy.mil/fmb/PB/BOOKS.htm