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Understanding the Big Dollars Involved: How the Military Uses Its Budget

, Understanding the Big Dollars Involved: How the Military Uses Its Budget

The Big Bucks

When people talk about military spending, the conversation often revolves around an expensive new fighter jet or futuristic technology. Often, those investments total billions of dollars at a time. But how does the sizable U.S. military budget really break down?

Business Insider has demystified military spending with a series of simple infographics about the 2015 budget. It’s an interesting read and you may be surprised at how money gets spread across each branch of service, and among different purposes.

Notable highlights of the budget analysis include:

  • The base budget comprises 80% of spending. This includes equipment and operations. Overseas contingencies and growth initiatives make up much of the rest.
  • Out of the $496 base budget, about half pays for personnel and operations. About 13% goes toward R&D.
  • The Navy takes the lion’s share of the budget, followed by the Air Force. These branches also spend the largest amounts on big-ticket investments such as the $8.3 billion F-35 fighter jet and the $6.3 billion SSN 774 Virginia submarine.

On one hand, it’s true that the military spends the vast majority of its money on day-to-day operations. On the other hand, a single fighter plane cost almost 2% of the annual budget.

Military spending receives special scrutiny, and everyone can appreciate smart steps to improve the efficiency of operations.

DJ Products offers GSA-approved industrial tugs for DOD use. From aircraft tugs to equipment cart movers and beyond, our industrial tugs make it easy for military staff to maneuver and relocate equipment and vehicles with speed and efficiency.

Contact us for more info about industrial tugs for military applications and materials handling.

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