Military spending

What Obama’s Air Force Budget Request Says About the Future of Warfare

In President Obama’s final defense spending request, the Air Force looks beyond ISIS toward the rising technological capabilities of China and Russia, asking Congress for more money for intercontinental ballistic missile modernization and long-range striking, new semi-autonomous robotic missiles, offensive cyber operations, and lasers.

The research, development, test, and evaluation portion of the Air Force budget paints a picture of changing priorities inside a Defense Department grappling with new technological realities and evolving threats.