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Senate Appropriations Committee Advances $852.5 Billion Defense Bill to Fuel Pentagon Overhaul and Industry Growth

The approval paves the way for a larger defense budget, enabling DoD’s AI-first DTIC transformation, expanded rocket motor and unmanned systems production, ULA’s upcoming Vulcan debut launch

Exterior of L3Harris Technologies’ new Advanced Manufacturing Facility-South facility in Huntsville, Ala. (Photo: L3Harris)
United Launch Alliance said that it is on track to launch its Vulcan rocket on Aug. 12 (ULA Photo)
USS Virginia (SSN-774) successfully exits dry dock at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME on June 22, 2021. Virginia was at the shipyard for a scheduled maintenance period. (Photo: U.S. Navy by Jim Cleveland/Released)
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Overview

  • The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 26-3 to advance an $852.5 billion fiscal 2026 defense spending bill that boosts shipbuilding, munitions and Ukraine aid while trimming nuclear modernization programs.
  • The Pentagon reduced staff at its Defense Information Technology Center from nearly 200 to 40 employees and launched an AI-first digital transformation expected to save $25 million annually.
  • U.S. Space Force is preparing ground moving target indicator satellite launches for next year while United Launch Alliance readies its Vulcan rocket for an inaugural USSF-106 mission to geosynchronous orbit on Aug. 12 pending range approval.
  • L3Harris opened a 370,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Facility-South in Huntsville to produce inert solid rocket motor parts, and Anduril is positioning its McHenry, Mississippi plant to build 6,000 mid-sized tactical SRMs annually by late 2026.
  • Leidos secured a contract from a classified customer for 12 Sea Dart unmanned underwater vessels, and the customer has signaled intent to acquire 70 more next year.