≈$51.27B
Defense-wide
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) awarded a managed-care support contract for TRICARE — the health program for service members, retirees, and their families — to Humana Government Business. The value is about $51.3 billion ($51,269,205,263), the largest DoD contract this site has compiled. It shows that "military health care," not weapons, accounts for one of the biggest slices of defense spending.
- DHA ordered managed-care support for TRICARE (the military health program)
- Awarded to Humana Government Business
- Value ~$51.3B ($51,269,205,263; multi-year cumulative), definitive contract, Aug 2016–Dec 2025
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≈$35.14B
Navy
The U.S. Navy (the F-35 Joint Program Office) awarded an Advance Acquisition Contract for "Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot 12" of the F-35 to Lockheed Martin. The value is about $35.1 billion ($35,135,514,910) — a framework to fund long-lead material early for that production lot.
- Advance acquisition contract for F-35 "Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot 12"
- Awarded to Lockheed Martin; ordered by the U.S. Navy (managed by the Joint Program Office, JPO)
- Value ~$35.1B ($35,135,514,910; multi-year cumulative), definitive contract, Nov 2017–Mar 2031
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≈$34.66B
Navy
The U.S. Navy awarded a contract for "long lead time material" for Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines (SSN 802 and 803) to submarine builder Electric Boat (a General Dynamics company). The value is about $34.7 billion ($34,664,168,826) — among the largest DoD contracts this site has compiled.
- U.S. Navy ordered long-lead material for Virginia-class attack submarines (SSN 802, 803)
- Awarded to Electric Boat (a General Dynamics submarine builder)
- Value ~$34.7B ($34,664,168,826), definitive contract, Feb 2017–Jun 2036
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≈$31.96B
Air Force
The U.S. Air Force awarded a contract for its aerial-refueling modernization program "KC-X" (the current KC-46 Pegasus) to Boeing. The value is about $32.0 billion ($31,960,918,249) — a major program to replace the aging tanker fleet.
- U.S. Air Force ordered the "KC-X" aerial-refueling modernization program
- Awarded to Boeing (materialized as the KC-46 Pegasus)
- Value ~$32.0B ($31,960,918,249), definitive contract, Feb 2011–Jul 2027
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≈$30.14B
Defense-wide
The DoD awarded about $30.1B ($30,140,182,630, cumulative over years) to Lockheed Martin for long-lead funding and related work on Lot 15 of Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) of the F-35A stealth fighter. Part of the U.S. military's flagship F-35 program.
- Funds long-lead material/funding for F-35A (Air Force variant) LRIP Lot 15
- Recipient: Lockheed Martin, the F-35 prime contractor
- Value ~$30.1B (multi-year cumulative), period November 2019–June 2028
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≈$26.7B
Navy
The U.S. Navy awarded a "design completion" contract for the next-generation ballistic-missile submarine (SSBN), the Columbia class, to Electric Boat (a General Dynamics company). The value is about $26.7 billion ($26,699,845,470).
- U.S. Navy ordered design completion of the next-gen Columbia-class SSBN
- Awarded to Electric Boat (a General Dynamics company)
- Value ~$26.7B ($26,699,845,470), definitive contract, Sep 2017–Dec 2031
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≈$24.5B
Navy
The U.S. Navy (the F-35 Joint Program Office) awarded a long-lead-funding contract for F-35 fighters (A, B, and C variants) to Lockheed Martin — covering U.S. services, non-DoD partners, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. The value is about $24.5 billion ($24,499,786,640).
- Long-lead material for F-35 A/B/C (U.S. services + partners + FMS)
- Awarded to Lockheed Martin; awarding component is the U.S. Navy (the JPO)
- Value ~$24.5B ($24,499,786,640), definitive contract, Dec 2022–Sep 2030
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≈$23.49B
Defense-wide
The DoD's Defense Health Agency (DHA) awarded about $23.5B ($23,493,318,778, cumulative over years) for managed-care support of TRICARE, the health program for service members, families and retirees. Recipient: Health Net Federal Services. A large military "healthcare" contract — defense is not only weapons.
- The Defense Health Agency funded managed-care support for the military health program TRICARE
- Value ~$23.5B (multi-year cumulative), period of performance August 2016–May 2026
- Defense is not only weapons — military healthcare is a vast spending area
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≈$19.41B
Defense-wide
For the North Region of "TRICARE," the DoD health plan for service members and families, a managed-care support contract was awarded to Health Net Federal Services. The value is about $19.4 billion ($19,414,789,943) — a reminder that defense spending extends well beyond weapons, into health care.
- Managed-care support contract for DoD TRICARE (North Region)
- Awarded to Health Net Federal Services; awarding component is the Defense Health Agency
- Value ~$19.4B ($19,414,789,943), definitive contract, May 2010–Aug 2025
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≈$18.76B
Defense-wide
The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO — predecessor of today's Missile Defense Agency, MDA) awarded a ballistic-missile-defense contract to Boeing. The value is about $18.8 billion ($18,762,686,627). It is tied to the "Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD)" that intercepts long-range ballistic missiles aimed at the homeland — a core U.S. missile-defense investment.
- BMDO (predecessor of today's MDA) ordered ballistic missile defense from Boeing
- Value ~$18.8B ($18,762,686,627; multi-year cumulative), definitive contract, Dec 2000–Dec 2015
- Boeing is the lead contractor for homeland "Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD)"
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≈$18.13B
Defense-wide
The U.S. Navy awarded a contract for long-lead material toward production (FRP II) of the P-8A Poseidon (based on the Boeing 737), which performs anti-submarine and patrol missions, to Boeing. The value is about $18.1 billion ($18,129,749,822) — a major program replacing the aging P-3 patrol aircraft.
- U.S. Navy ordered long-lead material toward P-8A production (FRP II)
- Awarded to Boeing (the P-8A is a multi-mission maritime aircraft based on the Boeing 737)
- Value ~$18.1B ($18,129,749,822), definitive contract, Aug 2014–Nov 2027 (multi-year cumulative)
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≈$16.24B
Navy
The U.S. Navy awarded about $16.2B ($16,238,775,949, cumulative over years) for construction of Virginia-class "Block III" nuclear-powered attack submarines. Recipient: Electric Boat, a General Dynamics subsidiary. A contract for the Navy's frontline attack submarines.
- The Navy funded construction of Virginia-class "Block III" attack submarines
- Recipient: Electric Boat (a General Dynamics subsidiary), core submarine builder
- Value ~$16.2B (multi-year cumulative), period December 2008–August 2023
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≈$14.27B
Navy
The U.S. Navy awarded about $14.3B ($14,270,285,727, cumulative over years) for the Naval Nuclear Laboratory, which underpins nuclear propulsion for ships. Recipient: Fluor Marine Propulsion. A research-operations contract supporting the heart of nuclear submarines and carriers.
- The Navy funded operation of the "Naval Nuclear Laboratory"
- A specialized institution for submarine/carrier nuclear-propulsion reactor technology
- Value ~$14.3B (multi-year cumulative), period July 2018–September 2028
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≈$13.15B
Defense-wide
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) awarded the managed-care support contract for the "West Region" of military health program TRICARE to UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services. The value is about $13.1 billion ($13,145,560,374) — an example of how TRICARE is contracted out to different private insurers by region.
- DHA ordered managed-care support for the TRICARE "West Region"
- Awarded to UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services
- Value ~$13.1B ($13,145,560,374; multi-year cumulative), definitive contract, Mar 2012–Feb 2019
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≈$12.57B
Army
The U.S. Army awarded an Afghanistan services contract under "LOGCAP IV," which outsources theater base operations, life support, and logistics to the private sector, to engineering major Fluor. The value is about $12.6 billion ($12,568,636,131) — a case where defense spending goes substantially to "services" rather than weapons.
- U.S. Army ordered an Afghanistan contract under "LOGCAP IV," outsourcing theater support to the private sector
- Recipient Fluor, ~$12.6B ($12,568,636,131), July 2009–September 2025 (multi-year cumulative)
- LOGCAP has contractors provide base operations, food, fuel, facilities, and logistics
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≈$12.55B
Army
An Army contracting component awarded about $12.5B ($12,549,999,848) to Pfizer for 10 million courses of the oral protease inhibitor PF-07321332 (nirmatrelvir, the active component of Paxlovid). An example of the defense procurement system used for pandemic-response drug purchasing.
- An Army contracting component procured 10M courses of an oral antiviral
- PF-07321332 = nirmatrelvir = the active component of Paxlovid
- Value ~$12.5B, period of performance November 2021–March 2023
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≈$11.9B
Navy
The U.S. Navy awarded a contract for engineering efforts and steel for the Ford-class nuclear aircraft carrier CVN 80 (to be named the next "Enterprise") to carrier builder Huntington Ingalls. The value is about $11.9 billion ($11,894,554,725) — a large award for building a nuclear carrier, among the world's largest and most complex warships.
- U.S. Navy ordered engineering efforts and steel for the Ford-class nuclear carrier CVN 80
- Awarded to Huntington Ingalls (Newport News / a major carrier builder)
- Value ~$11.9B ($11,894,554,725), definitive contract, May 2016–Jun 2036 (multi-year cumulative)
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≈$11.89B
Navy
The U.S. Navy awarded a contract for engineering efforts and steel for the Ford-class nuclear aircraft carrier CVN 80 (to be named the next "Enterprise") to carrier builder Huntington Ingalls. The value is about $11.9 billion ($11,894,554,725) — a large award for building a nuclear carrier, among the world's largest and most complex warships.
- U.S. Navy ordered engineering efforts and steel for the Ford-class nuclear carrier CVN 80
- Awarded to Huntington Ingalls (Newport News / a major carrier builder)
- Value ~$11.9B ($11,894,554,725), definitive contract, May 2016–Jun 2036 (multi-year cumulative)
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≈$11.72B
Air Force
The U.S. Air Force awarded a contract for engineering & manufacturing development (EMD) and early production & deployment of the next-generation land-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program, the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), to Northrop Grumman. The value is about $11.7 billion ($11,719,559,923). GBSD was later named "Sentinel" and replaces the aging Minuteman III.
- Development & early production of the next-gen land-based ICBM "GBSD (later Sentinel)"
- Awarded to Northrop Grumman; awarding component is the U.S. Air Force
- Value ~$11.7B ($11,719,559,923), definitive contract, Sep 2020–Mar 2029
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≈$11.6B
Army
The U.S. Army awarded a five-year, multi-year contract for H-60 helicopters (Black Hawk and others) to Sikorsky, covering up to 916 aircraft for the Army, Navy, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) — including Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Australia. The value is about $11.6 billion ($11,602,480,135).
- Five-year, multi-year H-60 helicopter contract; up to 916 aircraft
- Awarded to Sikorsky; awarding component is the U.S. Army; also Navy and FMS
- FMS countries: Saudi National Guard, Taiwan, Thailand, Royal Australian Navy
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≈$11.2B
Air Force
The U.S. Air Force awarded a contract for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) F-15 fleet modernization program to Boeing. The value is about $11.2 billion ($11,204,226,413). It is an example of "Foreign Military Sales (FMS)," in which the U.S. brokers an ally's procurement; the cost is borne by the purchasing country (Saudi Arabia).
- Via the U.S. Air Force, Saudi (RSAF) F-15 modernization was ordered from Boeing
- Value ~$11.2B ($11,204,226,413; multi-year cumulative), definitive contract, Mar 2012–May 2023
- Foreign Military Sales (FMS) = the U.S. brokering an ally's procurement government-to-government
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≈$11.11B
Army
The Department of Defense (via Army contracting) awarded a contract for COVID-19 vaccine production to Pfizer. The value is about $11.1 billion ($11,110,134,066) — a case where the DoD's procurement capacity was used for the pandemic response, showing that defense is not only about weapons.
- The DoD (via Army contracting) ordered COVID-19 vaccine production
- Recipient Pfizer, ~$11.1B ($11,110,134,066), December 2020–June 2023 (multi-year cumulative)
- The DoD's procurement capacity (e.g., Army Contracting Command) was used for the pandemic response
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≈$11.04B
Defense-wide
The Department of Defense awarded a contract for the V-22 Osprey — a tiltrotor that takes off like a helicopter and flies like an airplane (MV-22, FY08 Lot 12) — to the Bell Boeing joint venture. The value is about $11.0 billion ($11,040,980,157). A large procurement of an aircraft with a unique flight capability.
- The DoD ordered V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft (MV-22, FY08 Lot 12)
- Awarded to the Bell Boeing joint venture, ~$11.0B ($11,040,980,157), April 2007–August 2018 (multi-year cumulative)
- The V-22 takes off/lands vertically like a helicopter and flies fast and far like a fixed-wing aircraft
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≈$10.48B
Army
The U.S. Army awarded a production contract for the Patriot air-defense system's "PAC-3 (Advanced Capability-3)" interceptor to Lockheed Martin, covering FY21–23 production for the U.S. and Foreign Military Sales (FMS). The value is about $10.5 billion ($10,478,694,386).
- FY21–23 production of the Patriot "PAC-3" interceptor
- Awarded to Lockheed Martin; awarding component is the U.S. Army; U.S. + FMS
- Value ~$10.5B ($10,478,694,386), definitive contract, Apr 2020–Sep 2033
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≈$10.03B
Navy
The U.S. Navy awarded the detail design and construction of the San Antonio-class (LPD-17 class) amphibious transport dock "LPD-22" to shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls. The value is about $10.0 billion ($10,029,620,275) — an amphibious-warfare ship that transports Marine units and equipment and supports landings.
- U.S. Navy ordered the design & construction of San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock "LPD-22"
- Awarded to shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls
- Value ~$10.0B ($10,029,620,275; multi-year cumulative), definitive contract, Jun 2006–Sep 2022
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≈$9.5B
Defense-wide
The U.S. Air Force awarded a contract for "EELV" (FY13 + Phase I Buy), the program that carries national-security satellites to space, to United Launch Services (ULA). The value is about $9.5 billion ($9,499,338,751) — a large award supporting national-security access to space.
- U.S. Air Force ordered the national-security satellite launch program "EELV"
- Recipient United Launch Services (ULA), ~$9.5B ($9,499,338,751), June 2013–December 2022 (multi-year cumulative)
- EELV provides "assured access to space" — reliably carrying military/intelligence satellites to orbit
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