The President’s Budget was released on March 28^th which proposes $127.3 billion in discretionary and $1.7 trillion in mandatory budget authority for Fiscal Year 2023. Of that $1.7 trillion, $773 billion is dedicated to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) which represents a 4% increase relative to the FY 2022 funding enacted less than two weeks earlier. In FY 2022, research conducted by AUVSI showed that just under $9 billion was appropriated to support the procurement and research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) of uncrewed vehicles and associated technologies in the DOD.

The supporting justification documents for FY 2023 which describe detailed plans for how funding will be used have not yet been released publicly. However, AUVSI has reviewed the available overview materials from the Army, Navy and Marine Corps (the Air Force has not released a budget overview yet).
 

Highlights

The Marine Corps has requested $484 million to procure the MQ-9A Group 5 UAS in FY 2023, an increase of $161 million from the FY 2022 enacted levels.
Three of the Navy’s UAV RDT&E programs were highlighted with a net funding increase of over 65% in FY 2023’s request relative to the FY 2022 enacted levels. This is broken down as follows:

• $339 million for the MQ-4 Triton in FY 2023 (an increase of $192 million);
• $226 million for the MQ-25 (UCA) in FY 2023 (a minor increase of $4 million);
• $97 million for the MQ-9A Extended Range (ER) in FY 2023 (an increase of $81 million).

Aircraft Procurement 

• The Navy has requested three MQ-4C aircraft in FY 2023 and envisions procuring four in FY 2024 which represents the final procurement through FY 2027.
• The Navy has requested the procurement of four MQ-25 aircraft in FY 2023 followed by four additional aircraft each year through FY 2027 (for a total of 20 aircraft).
• The Marine Corps has requested five MQ-9A aircraft in FY 2023 and envisions procuring five in FY 2024 as well which represents the final procurement through FY 2027.

Maritime and Army 
Two maritime programs were highlighted in the Navy’s Press Brief on the FY 2023 budget:

• The Large USV program has requested $147 million in FY 2023, an increase of $44 million relative to the FY 2022 enacted funding.
• The XLUUV program has requested $117 million in FY 2023, an increase of $85 million relative to the FY 2022 enacted funding.

The Army’s budget overview did not specifically note how funding will be used for uncrewed vehicles.

Other Uncrewed Systems Support
Support of drones, automated vehicles, robotics, and uncrewed maritime systems was also noted in a handful of programs outside of the DOD.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has requested $35 million to procure systems that improve hurricane intensity and track forecasting including uncrewed ocean observing platforms and enhanced data assimilation.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport and Airways Trust Fund has included $245 million in FY 2023 to conduct research, engineering, and development to improve the national airspace system's capacity and safety, as well as the ability to meet environmental needs. The request includes funding for several research and development activities of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), as well as activities related to uncrewed aircraft systems.

The Department of Transportation’s (DoT) Motor Carrier Safety Operations and Programs budget line requests $408 million in FY 2023. With a primary focus on motor carrier safety, resources will also be used to conduct research on highly automated vehicles and related technologies.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Science program has requested nearly $8 billion in FY 2023, an increase of $687 million relative to the FY 2022 enacted funding. This appropriation provides for the agency’s Earth and space science programs which includes robotic flight missions and a lunar robotic exploration program.

Drone procurements were also noted:

• For the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to support local agencies in law enforcement and emergency humanitarian efforts;
• For the DoT to purchase, maintain, operate, and deploy drones that advance the missions of the DoT/FAA.

A more in-depth review of the FY 2023 budget will be conducted once the detailed justification documents are released. Analysis of the recently enacted FY 2022 budget is available to AUVSI member organizations here.