The Defense Department spent $24 billion on its unclassified and classified intelligence activities in Fiscal 2011, announced Pentagon officials. This military intelligence program topline included the appropriations both in the Pentagon’s base budget and in its overseas contingency operations accounts, they said. DOD officials said they determined that “releasing this topline figure does not jeopardize any classified activities within the MIP.” However, they said they would not release additional MIP budget figures or program details since they “remain classified for national security reasons.” The Fiscal 2011 MIP total was down some $3 billion from the previous fiscal year. The MIP comprises the activities that support the Defense Secretary’s intelligence, counterintelligence, and related responsibilities.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.