Defense spending set to increase for electronics and electro-optics programs in 2007

March 1, 2006
Leaders of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) propose spending nearly $21.3 billion in fiscal year 2007 for procurement and research in communications, electronics, telecommunications, and intelligence (CET&I) technologies-which represents nearly a 4 percent increase over current-year levels.

By John Keller

WASHINGTON - Leaders of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) propose spending nearly $21.3 billion in fiscal year 2007 for procurement and research in communications, electronics, telecommunications, and intelligence (CET&I) technologies-which represents nearly a 4 percent increase over current-year levels.

This amount does not include electronics-heavy activities such as avionics, vetronics, and missile guidance; when these are added, DOD spending levels for electronics and electro-optics could approach $60 billion to $65 billion, industry analysts believe.

Experts estimate that total DOD electronics, electro-optics, and information technology spending is roughly 15 percent of the total DOD budget. Most of the DOD’s technology spending is in the procurement, research, and development accounts.

For 2007, which begins next Oct. 1, DOD leaders are asking Congress for $439.3 billion, which would be a 4.6 percent increase over the 2006 request of $419.3 billion-and a 6.5 percent increase over 2006 congressional defense appropriations of $410.8 billion, DOD officials say.

The DOD’s proposed $439.3 billion budget includes spending proposals for military personnel, military construction, and family housing. These numbers do not include supplemental congressional appropriations to fund the global war on terrorism.

Air Force spending

The U.S. Air Force, which spends the most, by far, of any U.S. military service on electronics and electro-optics, is proposing an $11.06 billion 2007 budget for communications, electronics, telecommunications, and intelligence procurement and research-an 18.4 percent increase over current-year appropriations of $9.24 billion.

The Air Force’s budget request includes $1.75 billion to procure electronics and telecommunications equipment-a 6.1 percent increase over current spending of $1.64 billion, and $9.3 billion for research into intelligence and communications-an 18.4 percent increase over the 2006 level of $7.6 billion.

In total, the Air Force next year plans to spend $32.16 billion for procurement, and $24.4 billion on research and development.

Highlights of the Air Force’s technology procurement requests include $334.7 million for base information infrastructure, $147.7 million for tactical communications and electronics equipment, $121.8 million for communications security equipment, and $120.4 million for general information technology.

Air Force researchers next year propose to spend $867.1 million on the Transformational Satellite Communications (TSAT) program, $266.4 million on space-based radar, $121.2 million on space situational awareness systems, $688.9 million on the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) High, and nearly $2 billion on the Joint Strike Fighter.

Army spending

The U.S. Army is proposing to spend $4.27 billion for CET&I procurement and research-a 13.2 percent reduction from current-year spending levels of $4.92 billion.

The Army’s budget request includes $3.9 billion for CET&I procurement-a 13.4 percent reduction from current levels of $4.49 billion, and $378.2 million for related research and development-an 11.4 percent decrease from the current level of $426.8 million.

In total, the Army next year plans to spend $16.84 billion on procurement and nearly $10.9 billion on research and development.

Highlights of the Army’s technology procurement requests include $321 million on night-vision devices, $179.6 million on the Long-Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System, $209.5 million on the Night Vision Thermal Weapon Sight, $160.1 million on the Force-21 Battle Command Brigade and Below system (FBCB2), $139.2 million on automated data-processing equipment, and $340.2 million on Bridge To Future Networks.

Army researchers next year propose to spend $832.3 million on the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS), $3.31 billion on the Armored Systems Modernization program, $264.5 million on the Aerostat Joint Project Office, $301.7 million on aircraft modernization, $158.2 million on the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T), and $322.8 million on the Non Line of Sight Launch System.

Navy spending

Of the three military services, the U.S. Navy has the smallest 2007 budget for procurement and research in communications, electronics, telecommunications, and intelligence technologies. Next year, the Navy plans to spend nearly $1.75 billion on CET&I procurement and research-a 17.2 percent reduction from the current level of $2.1 billion.

The Navy’s 2007 budget request includes $390.9 million for CET&I procurement-a drastic reduction of 58.2 percent over current-year levels of $934.4 million, and $1.36 billion on related research and development programs-a 13.3 percent increase from 2006 spending of $1.78 billion.

In total, the Navy next year plans to spend $32.16 billion on procurement, and $16.91 billion on research and development.

Highlights of the Navy’s technology procurement requests for next year include $67.2 million for common computer resources, $53.5 million for radio systems, $49.2 million for communications switching and control systems, $41.1 million for air operations command-and-control systems, and $26 million for intelligence support equipment.

Navy researchers next year propose to spend $319.7 million on the Littoral Combat Ship, $140.4 million on advanced submarine system development, $497.8 million for the Advanced Hawkeye carrier-based reconnaissance aircraft, $372.4 million on the E-18 Growler electronic-warfare aircraft, $2 billion on the Joint Strike Fighter, $218.5 million on Marine Corps communications systems, $748.7 million on satellite communications, and $115.9 million on tactical unmanned aerial vehicles.

Defense agencies spending

U.S. defense agencies in 2007 plan to spend $4.12 billion on research and development-a 3.1 percent reduction from 2006 levels of $4.25 billion. Spending for CET&I spending throughout all the defense agencies is difficult to track precisely.

In total, U.S. defense agencies next year plan to spend nearly $4.2 billion on procurement, and $20.81 billion on research and development. Defense agencies include such organizations as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).

Of all the defense agencies, the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) by far has the largest procurement budget (separate from research efforts). In 2007 SOCOM officials plan to spend $1.54 billion in procurement.

Highlights of SOCOM procurement next year include $70.4 million on communications equipment and electronics, which is drastically down by 40 percent from current levels of $117.4 million. Other SOCOM projected spending next year includes $93.9 million for psychological operations equipment, $32.7 million on intelligence systems, $20.7 million on unmanned vehicles, $13.2 million on tactical vehicles, and $86.8 million on helicopter upgrades.

Meanwhile, SOCOM leaders $409.7 million in research and development next year. SOCOM’s research highlights include $83.7 million for special operations aviation systems advanced development, $29 million for special operations intelligence systems development, and $32.5 million for the Operations Advanced Seal Delivery System development.

Leaders of the DOD’s Chemical and Biological Defense program plan to spend $506.4 million on procurement next year. Included in this budget is $236.1 million for contamination avoidance, $47.1 million for the Joint Biological Defense Program, and $76.7 million for individual protection. The Chemical and Biological Defense program proposes a research budget of $959.1 million next year.

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) plans to spend $183.6 million in 2007. DISA projects include $27 million on network-centric enterprise services, $29.9 million on the Defense Information System Network (DISN), $5.6 million on the Global Command and Control System, and $18.7 million on information systems security.

Meanwhile, DISA leaders propose a research budget of $344.8 million next year. DISA research projects include $59.7 million for Global Command and Control System, $47 million for the Joint Command and Control Program, $28.6 million for Net-Centric Enterprise Services, and $12.4 million for the Joint Spectrum Center.

One of the perennial heavy hitters of defense-wide research programs-the Missile Defense Agency-proposes spending $9.31 billion next year, which represents a 17.5 percent increase over current-year spending of $7.68 billion.

MDA research projects next year include $2.88 billion for ballistic missile defense midcourse defense segment, $1.04 billion for ballistic missile defense terminal defense segment, $1.03 billion for maritime ballistic missile defense with the U.S. Navy’s Aegis system, and $514.5 million for ballistic missile defense sensors.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) proposes a research budget next year of $3.29 billion-up by 9.6 percent from current-year levels of $2.98 billion.

DARPA research projects proposed for next year include $242.9 million for information and communications technology, $220.1 million for cognitive computing systems, $115.8 million for advanced aerospace systems, $248.6 million for advanced electronics technologies, $232.5 million for command, control, and communications systems, $174.3 million for network-centric warfare technology, and $205.6 million for sensor technology.

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