Ordnance Support Equipment

The Ordnance Support Equipment line item (LI 2500) in the Navy's FY 2026 budget request is a critical component of the Department of Defense's efforts to ensure the operational readiness and sustainment of naval ordnance systems. This program is funded through the Weapons Procurement, Navy appropriation, specifically under Budget Activity 02: Other Missiles, and Budget Sub Activity 5: Ordnance Support Equipment. The primary goal of this line item is to procure and maintain the specialized equipment required to support the handling, testing, maintenance, and transportation of naval ordnance, including missiles and munitions.

The objectives of the Ordnance Support Equipment program are to provide the Navy with the necessary tools and systems to safely and efficiently manage ordnance throughout its lifecycle. This includes equipment for loading and unloading weapons, diagnostic and test equipment for maintenance and repair, and specialized transportation assets to move ordnance within naval facilities and aboard ships.

The program also encompasses the procurement of support equipment that ensures compliance with safety and security standards, which is essential for both peacetime operations and combat readiness. The requested funds for FY 2026 will be used to address emerging requirements, replace aging or obsolete equipment, and ensure that new ordnance systems entering the fleet are fully supported by compatible ground support infrastructure. The reduction in requested funding for FY 2026 reflects the cyclical nature of procurement for support equipment, as well as the completion of major acquisition phases in prior years.

The Ordnance Support Equipment program is managed by the Navy's acquisition and logistics agencies, which are responsible for identifying requirements, overseeing procurement, and ensuring that delivered equipment meets operational needs. The program is classified under ID Code A, indicating that it is service ready, and all details of the specific equipment and quantities are classified in accordance with Executive Order 13526, Section 1.4(a).

As such, the precise nature of the equipment procured and its intended applications are not disclosed in the unclassified budget justification, but the overarching objective is to maintain the Navy's ability to support its full spectrum of ordnance systems. Justification for continued investment in Ordnance Support Equipment centers on the need to sustain fleet readiness and ensure the safe handling of increasingly complex and sensitive munitions.

As the Navy modernizes its missile and ordnance inventory, corresponding updates to support equipment are required to accommodate new technologies, enhance safety protocols, and improve logistical efficiency. This line item also supports the integration of new ordnance types and the retirement of legacy systems, ensuring that the Navy's ordnance support infrastructure remains current and reliable.

While the budget line is aggregated and classified, it is clear that the Ordnance Support Equipment program underpins the Navy's broader munitions enterprise by enabling the safe, secure, and effective management of its weapons stockpile. The program's objectives align with the Navy's strategic priorities of maintaining a ready and capable force, supporting global operations, and adapting to evolving threats through modernization and sustainment of critical support infrastructure.