U.S. Army

WASHINGTON — The Army proposes to add over $2 billion to its modernization efforts next fiscal year that will help continue to develop hypersonic missiles, future aircraft and combat vehicles.

The fiscal year 2021 budget request released Monday asks for $10.6 billion for the Army’s six modernization priorities, a jump from this fiscal year’s enacted budget of $8.5 billion.

Of those priorities, long-range precision fires will receive $1.7 billion, if the budget is approved as is. Within it, $800 million would fund a long-range hypersonic missile program that aims to fill a critical capability gap against anti-access/aerial denial capabilities, according to budget documents.

The Army expects to field its first hypersonic unit and fire test shots in fiscal 2022, followed by fielding combat rounds in fiscal 2023.

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