The Defense Department has requested $13.3 billion for intelligence programs in the Fiscal 2015 base budget. That’s a significant drop from the $14.6 billion requested in DOD’s Fiscal 2014 base request. While DOD “determined that releasing this figure does not jeopardize any classified activities,” other budget figures and program details remain classified, according to a March 6 release. DOD will release its Fiscal 2015 overseas contingency operations funding request for military intelligence programs at a later date, states the release.
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.