Carter to unveil military budget, secret mini-drone

In a speech in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter will elaborate on the budget for fiscal year 2017, which is expected to be $524 billion, AFP reported Monday quoting anonymous officials with the defense department speaking on condition of anonymity.
 
The budget is augmented by $59 billion for an "overseas contingency fund" to cover the country’s military operations in Afghanistan as well as Syria and Iraq, where the US allegedly targets Daesh Takfiri terrorists.
 
The world's changing "threat environment" will also be discussed during the speech, an official said, referring to the crisis in Ukraine and reunification of Crimea to Russia in 2014.
 
A big increase is expected in funds for the so-called European Reassurance Initiative, aimed at pushing Moscow out of eastern Europe.
 
A 35 percent increase, compared to the last year, is also expected for the budget to fight ISIL, which will put the figure at $7 billion.
 
Some newly declassified technologies, including a small drone capable of flying alongside other units in a sort of swarm, are expected to be unveiled.
 
The speech will likely introduce an expansion in the US fight against Daesh in Syria, Iraq, and even Libya.
 
Earlier on Monday, Combined Joint Task Force Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland declined to comment on how the war would be expanded.
 
The United States military budget is more than the combined defense spending of the next eight biggest military states across the globe.