US Department of Defense (DoD)

Chiefs of Staff Committee

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is the main planning and management body of the United States Armed Forces.

2023: Charles Brown succeeds Mark Milley at committee head

On September 21, 2023, the US Senate approved the candidacy to replace the Chairman of the Committee of Chiefs of Staff (KNS) of the US Armed Forces, General Mark Millie, who resigns on October 1. Millie will be replaced by African American Charles Brown - at this time he holds the position of Chief of Staff of the US Air Force. For the first time in the US, the two highest military positions will be held by blacks.

Brown began his military career in the 1980s. Before being appointed Chief of Staff of the Air Force, he commanded the Pacific Air Force, before that - the air component of the Indo-Pacific Command. Brown was personally recommended by US President Joe Biden for the post of KNS, however, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also played a significant role in his career rise.

The administration took into account his experience as head of the US Air Force Command in the Pacific Ocean zone and deputy commander of the Joint Central Command of the US Armed Forces (Middle East Region).

The main task secretly set for Brown by the White House is to prepare the US military for a possible armed conflict with China in the Indo-Pacific region.

In addition, Biden's team took into account Brown's "political complacency." The general throughout his military career regularly and consistently supported the course of the Democratic Party. In 2020, during the Black Lives Matter protests, he caused hype in the press with his emotional video, in which he said that he had to fight his way upstairs, competing harshly with white men.

The American press also emphasizes Brown's lack of any initiative - he is characterized as a person who will only do what they tell him. The general is also unlikely to allow himself to publicly issue gloomy predictions about the conflict in Ukraine, as Mark Milley regularly did.

Subordinate organizations

• National Security Agency (NSA) of the United States
• DARPA
• Information Management & Technology Directorate
• Pentagon Strategic Capital Office (OSC)
• United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM)

Armed Forces

Main article: US Armed Forces

Kind of troops

• United States Army (Ground Forces)
• UNITED STATES AIR FORCE (USAF)
• UNITED STATES NAVY
• United States Marines
• US Cyber Command (US Cybercom)

Budget

Main article: Military budgets of countries

2023

Record budget of $821 billion, but taking into account inflation 15% lower than in 2010

Nominal spending on national defense in the United States in the fiscal year to July 2023 reached an all-time high of $821 billion, and compared to 2019, an increase of 19% and almost zero in real terms (accumulated inflation on the GDP deflator amounted to 18% for 4 years).

Defense spending in 2023, taking into account inflation, is 15% lower than in 2010! The defense article is the most "crushed" in comparison with all other items of spending, where the distribution of spending growth is in the range of 37-39%, and in defense only 19% in 4 years.

Thus, as of 2023, there is no emphasis on military-industrial complex and defense in the United States, and the entire increase in comparison with 2021 is almost entirely associated with the support of Ukraine. The budget is not yet defense and large-scale investments in the military-industrial complex cannot be traced, Spydell Finance wrote.

Are there preparations for a big war from the United States? Defense budget cuts

The draft defense spending from the budget office of the US Congress within the framework of the official document does not imply large-scale measures for the state defense order in 2023-2025, at least according to official plans.

in Ministry of Defence USA assistance with the Congressional Budget Office is developing a draft FYDP that reflects plans and intentions for the next five years. The development took place in 2022, when there was complete information about the current geopolitical disposition, and when the special operation of Russia To Ukraine was not in full swing. The document is updated for January 2023.

The US Department of Defense requested $772 billion in 2023, which is 1.5% less at par than in 2022. The project for 2024 is 784 billion and 762 billion in 2025.

Moreover, defense spending in 2022 actually amounted to 3.6% of GDP, which is the minimum since 1939 and below 2000 (3.8%) to the Middle East Safari. In 2023, defense spending may decrease to 3.3% of GDP, updating the next minimum.

In fact, from October to April 2023 (the new fingod) spent more than in 2022 by 6%, which is within inflation.

The level of diversification of the economy, the depth, complexity and scale of industry development have grown greatly over 80 years, so a third of GDP is not needed for a large-scale state defense order, but they do not even reach 2010, the Spydell Finance channel wrote in May 2023.

The United States, apparently, does not take geopolitical challenges seriously and does not intend to actively engage in conflict against Russia and/or China.

New orders for the American military-industrial complex reached a record of $204 billion

Defense spending in the United States reached an all-time high of $204 billion (as part of new orders for the military-industrial complex), and spending on capital goods is also at a new high of $173 billion for the year, according to Census.

Capital goods include armored vehicles of any kind, aircraft, ships, defense spacecraft, missiles, small arms and ammunition, communications and navigation equipment.

Capital goods do NOT take into account equipment and equipment, electronic components and components (for example, computers, monitors, projectors, etc., which are used for defense purposes), do not take into account provisions, medicines used in the army and any other goods of circulation. Also, infrastructure costs and the construction of capital structures, such as military bases, are not taken into account.

Taking into account equipment, equipment and goods of circulating/short-term value without provisions and construction, 200-210 billion is issued per year. These costs take into account only the American military-industrial complex.

The largest and most significant item of expenses is aircraft and defense spacecraft, where there are almost 70 billion expenses per year (again another maximum).

Compared to 2015, expenses increased by 65% at par, over the year by 14%, but this indicator is very volatile and here you need to look in retrospect at a long period. Since the beginning of 2000, orders have doubled, but compared to 2011 (within the framework of the previous military doctrine), an increase of only 20% over 11 years.

There is no deflator, because prices for defense goods are classified and there is no understanding of how prices and purchases have changed in real terms. So far, it can be noted that since 2016 the trajectory has been steadily upward, as from 2004 to 2011.

Since April 2022, quite intensive orders for the American military-industrial complex, but not to say that "the transition to a new normality." Rather, a planned build-up without obvious "excesses," the Spydell Finance channel noted.

2020: Plan to increase budget to $718 billion, of which $9.6 billion will go to work in cyberspace

In total, the budget of the Ministry of Defense in 2020 will reach $718 billion - this is most of all funds allocated for national security, the volume of which will be $750 billion. The ministry explains the need for such large costs by a long-term strategic competition with China and Russia.

The US Department of Defense is increasing spending on work in cyberspace: in 2019 it will receive $8.5 billion for this, and in 2020 it is already asking for $9.6 billion. This application was included in the 2020 budget plan just proposed to Congress by US President Donald Trump. As explained in the budget application, the money will be spent on "protecting the networks, information and systems of the Department of Defense, supporting the goals of military command and protecting the nation"^[1].

Of the $9.6 billion that the Ministry of Defense asks for cyber attacks, about $3.7 billion will be spent on offensive and defensive operations in cyberspace. Another $5.4 billion is planned to be spent on improving the security of networks, systems and data of the ministry. Finally, $61.9 million will be spent on upgrading general-purpose clouds.

In addition, the Ministry of Defense is going to spend $927 million on artificial intelligence and machine learning - the Joint Center for Artificial Intelligence (JAIC) is developing these technologies. Some of the funds will be used to develop facial recognition technologies.

The budget also mentions that the ministry is asking for $2.6 billion for supersonic weapons and $235 million for research in the field of laser weapons. As the acting Minister of Defense Patrick Shanahan noted, in the budget for 2020, the Ministry of Defense asks for research and development, including in the field of IT, the largest amount in the last 70 years.

2019: Ministry budget $717 billion

2011: Ministry budget $708 billion

The 2011 US Department of Defense budget is $708 billion, including ongoing spending on warfare, which is approximately 4.7% of US^[2] GDP^[2]

The invasion of Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, the presence in Syria from October 2001 to August 2021, and the active phase until 2011 cost the United States an average of 4.8% of GDP, and a maximum of 2010 (5.5%).

1975: Costs of 9% of GDP per year during the Vietnam War

The Vietnam War - from August 1964 to April 1975, the United States spends an average of 9% of GDP on defense, peaking at 11% in 1967.

1953: Spending 12.9% of GDP on the Korean War

The Korean War - from June 1950 to July 1953, on average, 12.9% of GDP was spent on defense in the United States with a peak of 15.7% in 1953.

1944: Record spending during World War II

World War II - the period of US participation from December 1941 to September 1945, defense spending 33% from GDP with a peak in 43% in 1944.

Digitalization

Main article: Pentagon digitalization

IT infrastructure

• Pentagon Cloud Infrastructure (JEDI)
• Unified Military IT System JADC2
• JWCC (Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability)

Artificial intelligence

Main article: Artificial intelligence at the Pentagon

Cyber wars

2016

Of the 31,000 cyber attacks in 2016, only 16 "carried a serious threat"

Of the 31 thousand cyber attacks that were aimed at government agencies and infrastructure, USA only 16 "carried a serious threat." The main reason for the vulnerability that was voiced in the study is Pentagon weaknesses in the management and information systems of both civilian and military structures. American experts believe that this insecurity is being used as a target for cyber attacks not only by Russia and, China but also by countries such as North Korea Iran^[3]

The report of the Scientific Council of the US Department of Defense named three main problems faced by the Pentagon during cyber support activities. The first of them is the colossal capabilities of Russia and China, which endangers the country's critical infrastructure. The second problem is the increasing potential of regional states every year, which can also direct cyber attacks on America. The third problem is called non-state organizations, the cyber impact of which is not so tangible, but is accumulative.

American experts note that spyware is present in the country's computer networks ON - these are programs such as Havex and BlackEnergy, which, in their opinion, may be related to cyber attacks on industrial control systems. Allegedly, with the help of the latter To Ukraine , at the end of 2015, the control system of electrical substations was hacked.

Request $6.8 billion for 2017 for cyber operations

On October 18, 2016, it became known that the US budget was preparing spending on information security in 2017 by $5 billion more than in 2016. The Ministry of Defense requested $6.8 billion for cyber operations of a specially created group.

The Pentagon asked for $6.8 billion for 2017 for cyber operations, Bloomberg reported. Cyberspace operations are assigned to the Cyber Mission Force.

The group operates under the control of US Cyber Command. The personnel of Cyber ​ ​ Mission Force ~ 5 thousand people. The group's tasks: improving the security of US military computer networks and cyber attacks on terrorist^[4].

The group reached initial operational readiness. 133 teams are satisfactorily trained and equipped, but their readiness to work does not mean an immediate start of cyber attacks against anyone. Daniel King, Cyber Command spokesman, Colonel

Cyber ​ ​ Mission Force should reach full operational readiness in 2018. By that time, its number will increase by 1200 people.

Cyber Mission Force will focus efforts on top priorities such as Russia, China, Iran and terrorist groups, including the Islamic State. Previously, government cyber operations were carried out separately - they were separately supervised by the NSA, the Cyber ​ ​ Command and various military departments. Now such operations will be carried out centrally and with a minimum of bureaucratic procedures. Bob Stasio, formerly Operations Director, NSA Cyber Operations Center

In the process of forming the budget for 2016, President Obama proposed allocating $14 billion for cybersecurity, which was $1 billion more than in 2015. In light of the planned, the increase of $5 billion in 2017 is significant.

• $3.1 billion of the allocated $19 billion - modernization of computer equipment in federal agencies.
• $62 million - attracting high-class information security specialists to cooperate with the government.

The reason for the increase in information security costs is a number of major cyber attacks that the United States was subjected to in 2016, including the hacking of the servers of the US Democratic Party in June 2016. The question - whether the budget proposed by the president will be approved by Congress, where Republicans are in charge as of October 2016, is open.

Along with the increase in the information security budget, the White House announced a plan for the formation of a special presidential commission, the next 10 years it will be engaged in strengthening cybersecurity. The administration plans to create the position of federal director for information security. Barack Obama signed a decree creating a permanent Federal Privacy Council, which will have to develop guidelines for the collection and storage of personal data.

Amazon chief becomes official Pentagon consultant

In 2016, the head of Amazon and one of the leading innovators of the United States, Bezos joined the Defense Innovation Advisory Council under the US Department of Defense. Together with colleagues, including Eric Schmidt, he will study the possibilities and prospects for the use of technologies from the private sector^[5] in the defense industry^[6].

In addition to Bezos, astrophysicist and TV presenter Neil deGrasse Tyson and Jennifer Pahlka, who founded Code for America to combat digital inequality between the private and public sectors, became the new member of the council.

The Advisory Board was established in March 2016. It consists of 15 people, representatives of private technology companies, universities and schools. The task of the council is to transfer technologies and technological practices from the private sector to the public sector, namely to the defense sector.

Eric Schmidt's appointment as head of Pentagon innovation board

On March 2, 2016, it became known about the appointment of Eric Schmidt as head of the Pentagon Innovation Council. The former CEO of Google began to lead a structure specializing in advising the leadership of the US Department of Defense on new technological developments.

2015

Call to invest in cyber war with Russia and China

In September 2015, US Secretary of Defense Asheton Carter called on^[7], the American community to invest in cyber warfare with Russia and China. He noted that due to the rapid technological development of these states, the United States is beginning to lose ground in the field of weapons of various plans.

Carter made the statement at a conference sponsored by the Advanced Defense Research Projects Agency (DARPA), part of the US Department of Defense. According to Carter, these investments are necessary due to the rapid technological development of China and Russia, which leads to a decrease in US military competitiveness.

Plan to hire 3 thousand hackers

In 2015, the Pentagon began an aggressive policy of hiring "cyber warriors" and sent a request to the personnel department for permission to hire at least three thousand hackers, according to The Fiscal Times. This should help the US Department of Defense resist attacks, the target of which, according to official figures, the ministry becomes daily.

Candidates, among other things, must have "unique cybersecurity skills and knowledge to assess cyber risks, as well as analyze malicious software and vulnerabilities." "We need" white "hackers to protect our systems from" black, "" translated^[8] description of the job publication.

A study recently conducted by the US Accounts Chamber showed a huge gap in the qualifications of civil servants working in the field of cybersecurity, IT and engineering, and specialists from the private sector. Although the Pentagon is aware of this and is trying to change the situation, the authorities indicate that the budget does not allow the state to fully compete with business in the hunt for talents, the newspaper explains.

2014

Establishment of the medal "for hacker merit"

The US authorities will award a medal to army soldiers who take part in cyber wars and have shown themselves in service. The establishment of a new award is reported on the official website of the Ministry of Defense. USA

"The new capabilities available to American military personnel allow them to fight the enemy and change the course of the battle while at a remote point," said Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. "Unfortunately, there were no awards that such people could receive for their merits."

"The new medal is our recognition of outstanding achievements that have had a direct impact on the course of events, but do not include the manifestation of courage and are not associated with life risks that are inherent in real combat," Panetta explained.

"The emergence of a new award speaks of changes in the principles of military operations," said American Army General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee under the Minister of Defense.

With the development of cyber attack technologies, the next Pearl Harbor can happen in virtual space, Panetta said.

In addition to participants in hostilities in cyber space, commanders of unmanned military aircraft, unmanned underwater swimming vehicles and employees of anti-missile forces will be able to receive a new medal.

One example of people honored with the new award could be an operator at a military base in Nevada operating an air drone in Afghanistan. Another example is the soldier of the fort in Maryland, who managed to detect and prevent cyber attacks on the computer network of the Ministry of Defense, the press service of the ministry noted.

Each Distinguished Warfare Medal will be personally approved by the Secretary of Defense. At the same time, Leon Panetta himself will soon retire, so this duty will pass to his successor. The last time a new award intended for American servicemen taking part in battles was established in 1944. It was the Bronze Star, which is awarded for bravery and heroism on the battlefield.

The new award will have a slightly higher rank compared to the Bronze Star, but smaller than the Silver Star, the Associated Press reported.

Recall that the United States was the first to create cyber troops. In 2009, Lieutenant General Keith Alexander announced the need to create such a unit of the American army. Recently, American President Barack Obama signed a decree according to which infrastructure companies and intelligence agencies will exchange information about cyber threats, and national cybersecurity standards will be developed.

Cyber Command budget more than doubled

In 2014, the US authorities will spend $447 million on the needs of the Cyber ​ ​ Command of the Ministry of Defense, which is 2.3 times more than the $191 million spent in 2013^[9].

The new Cyber ​ ​ Command budget was reported by Nextgov, citing official documents published by the US Budget Appropriations Commission. As explained to Nextgov in Minoobrons, the increase in cyber command costs is mainly associated with an increase in the staff of the unit. As of March 2013, it had about 830 employees. According to the program adopted by the authorities, until 2016, the staff of the cyber division is planned to increase by 2 thousand employees annually.

US cyber warfare is engaged in identifying and blocking threats emanating from foreign countries affecting military and industrial computing networks. Among their tasks is to protect the communal and social infrastructures of the state from hacker attacks.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, in 2012, the number of reports of cyber attacks on American computing networks increased to about 153 thousand, or, compared with 2011, increased by 42%.

At the same time, US spending on cyber defense will increase within the budget of the Department of Homeland Security. Under this article, $792 million will be allocated in 2014, which is $35.5 million more than in 2013.

Thus, the Pentagon and the US Department of Homeland Security will spend a total of over $1.2 billion on cyber attacks and cyber defense in 2014, or about 30% more than $948 million in 2013. However, both departmental budgets still need Senate approval.

History

2023

Pentagon acquires oil from Russia despite US sanctions

Allegedly "banned" Russian oil falls into the Pentagon supply chain. After multiple owner changes, the fuel is sold to a Greek refinery that serves the U.S. military in Greece, an audit by The Washington Post in November 2023 showed.

Pentagon has developed a new type of contract that forces non-state companies to serve the military

In the first half of March 2023, it became known that the US Department of Defense decided to use a new type of contract, which will oblige commercial satellite operators to serve the military, including during combat operations.

According to FCW, on March 9, 2023, lawmakers and the US Air Force Space Command expressed concern about SpaceX's statement that the company could limit the use of its Starlink group by the military in the current geopolitical situation. The fact is that the Pentagon, a major client of Starlink, plans a large-scale modernization of communication systems on the battlefield, including using satellite services provided by commercial operators.

Space Command Gen. James Dickinson said the Pentagon must make sure all parties, including commercial companies, understand their legal obligations and have a complete understanding of the military's communications needs.

Therefore, the department is working on a new type of contracts that actually force non-state structures to serve the military. We are talking about agreements similar to the agreements of the Civil Air Fleet Reservation (CRAF) program of 1952. Its essence lies in the fact that airlines voluntarily transfer their resources for air transportation to the Pentagon under certain circumstances. At the same time, the department independently makes decisions on how to use aircraft and maintenance personnel.

There is no doubt that the SpaceX Starlink system was widely used by Ukraine in this situation. I think this demonstrates that commercial space services can play a significant role in modern high-tension military operations, "Dickinson said.[10]

Notes