By John Keller
WASHINGTON–Leaders in the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) are proposing modest increases in procurement and research spending for the U.S. Navy, as well as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), yet the U.S. Air Force faces small reductions, while U.S. Army leaders are facing cuts of more than 17 percent in procurement and research.
The 2010 DOD budget proposes spending $663.8 billion in fiscal year 2010–$533.8 billion in discretionary spending, and $130 billion to support the continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Pentagon budget documents.
The DOD’s proposed $533.8 billion discretionary budget is about 4 percent larger than the 2009 base DOD budget of $513.3 billion. The discretionary budget includes proposed spending for military weapons, technology development, military personnel, military construction, and family housing.
For procurement in 2010, DOD is asking Congress for $131.16 billion, which is down 1.57 percent from current-year procurement spending of $133.26 billion. For research and development, DOD proposes to spend $78.94 billion in 2010, which is down 3.41 percent from current-year spending of $81.73 billion. With DOD’s 2010 budget proposal submitted in early May, it now is up to Congress to authorize or reject the military’s spending proposals.
In fiscal 2010, which begins Oct. 1, the Pentagon also proposes spending $23.67 billion for procurement and research in military communications, electronics, telecommunications, and intelligence (CET&I) technologies, which would represent a slight decrease of 0.13 percent from current-year enacted levels of $23.7 billion, according to Pentagon budget documents.
The procurement and research-and-development accounts contain the majority of the Pentagon’s initiatives that involve electronics and electro-optics technologies.
The Pentagon’s budget proposal would cancel or cease production of several major weapon systems, including the F-22 jet fighter, the C-17 cargo jet, the new presidential helicopter, the armed reconnaissance helicopter, the Transformational Satellite Communications (TSAT) program, and the Airborne Laser (ABL) systems.
Air Force spending
The U.S. Air Force would spend the most of any U.S. military service on procurement and research in 2010. The Air Force budget contains $67.97 billion for procurement and research–down 1.02 percent from current-year levels of $68.65 billion. The Air Force budget has $39.93 billion for procurement, down 3.79 percent from the current year, and $28.02 billion for research and development–up 3.23 percent from 2009.
Highlights of the Air Force’s technology procurement request include $291.8 million for the advanced medium-range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM); $1.84 billion for the Advanced EHF satellite; $201.7 million for wideband gapfiller satellites; $1.3 million for the evolved expendable launch vehicle; $201 million for the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM); $209.25 million for communications security equipment; and $240.9 million for tactical communications and electronics equipment.
Highlights of the Air Force’s technology research-and-development request includes $253.2 million for the Polar MILSATCOM satellite communications system; $396.6 million for the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS); $512.6 million for the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) High; $1.86 billion for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF); $439.6 million for the Next-Generation Aerial Refueling Aircraft; and $815.1 million for the Global Positioning System (GPS) III space segment.
Navy spending
The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps budget contains $66.26 billion for procurement and research–up 9.1 percent from current-year levels of $60.76 billion. The Navy budget has $46.89 billion for procurement, up 12.63 percent from the current year, and $19.38 billion for research and development–up 1.32 percent from 2009.
Highlights of the Navy and Marine Corps procurement request include $4 billion to buy 20 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF); $2.16 billion to buy 30 V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft; $1.66 billion to buy six P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol jets; $580.1 million for F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter modifications; $1.1 billion to modify Trident II submarine-launched ballistic missiles; $1.96 billion to buy one Virginia-class fast attack submarine; $1.08 billion for DDG 1000 Navy cruiser advance procurement; and $1.38 billion to buy three Littoral Combat Ships.
Highlights of the Navy and Marine Corps research-and-development request include $560.8 million for advanced submarine systems development; $364.6 million for Advanced Hawkeye research on future carrier-based advanced warning and control aircraft; $876.4 million for the Joint Tactical Radio System-Navy (JTRS-N); $236.1 million for Advanced Above Water Sensors; $1.74 billion for the Joint Strike Fighter; $1.16 billion for the Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA); $311.2 million for Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) advanced component and prototype development; $287.3 million for Marine Corps communications; and $465.8 million for the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle.
Army spending
The U.S. Army is taking the biggest hit in procurement and research in the Pentagon’s budget proposal. The Army budget contains $43.22 billion for procurement and research–down 17.28 percent from current-year levels of $52.26 billion, and down substantially from 2008 levels of $78.02 billion. The Army budget contains $32.72 billion for procurement, down 18.51 percent from the current year, and $10.5 billion for research and development–down 13.21 percent from the current year.
Highlights of the Army’s procurement request include $348.4 million for the Patriot missile system; $354.2 million for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System; $388.6 million for the Stryker armored vehicle; $285.9 million for the Future Combat Systems (FCS) program; $770 million for Bradley Fighting Vehicle modifications; $185.6 million for Abrams main battle tank modifications; $235 million for the Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station (CROWS); $1.62 billion for medium tactical vehicles; $1.44 billion for heavy tactical vehicles; and $557.7 million for the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical. (WIN-T); $135 million for single-channel ground and airborne radio systems (SINCGARS); $546.4 million for information systems; $252.5 million for the Distributed Common Ground Systems-Army (DCGS-A); $460 million for military night-vision devices; and $338.2 million for the Night-Vision Thermal Weapon Sight.
Highlights of the Army research-and-development request include $180.7 million for the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T); $267.1 million for electronic warfare development; $368 million for Future Combat Systems (FCS) manned ground vehicles; $1.1 billion for FCS systems of systems engineering; $569.2 million for Patriot MEADS combined development; $360.1 million for the Aerostat Joint Project Office; $232 million for tactical unmanned aerial vehicles; and $210 million for the Aerial Common Sensor (ACS).
Defense agencies spending
U.S. defense agencies in 2010 plan to spend $32.47 billion on procurement and research–essentially equal to 2009 levels. In 2010, DOD agencies are requesting $11.61 billion on procurement, and $$20.86 billion on research and development. Defense agencies include such organizations as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Special Operations Command (SOCOM), the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
Among the DOD agencies procurement budgets in 2010, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is requesting $589.02 million; and the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is requesting $412.1 million.
The big money for DOD agencies involves the research-and-development budgets. One of the perennial heavy hitters of defense-wide research programs–the Missile Defense Agency (MDA)–proposes spending $7.12 billion in 2010, down 16.73 percent from $8.49 billion this year. MDA research projects next year include $1.69 billion for ballistic missile defense technology aboard Aegis navy cruiser and destroyer warships; $982.9 million for midcourse ballistic missile defense; and $719.5 million for terminal-phase ballistic missile defense.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) proposes a research budget next year of $3.25 billion–an increase of 3.78 percent over the $3.13 billion that DARPA asked for last year. Highlights of DARPA research projects next year include $293.5 million for command, control, and communications systems; $282.7 million for information and communications technology; $243.1 million for sensor technology; $205.9 million for advanced electronics technologies; $223.8 million for electronics technology; $142.8 million on cognitive computing systems; and $135.9 million on network-centric warfare technology.
The Office of the Secretary of Defense proposes a research budget of $2.65 billion in 2010–up 1.27 percent from $2.62 billion in 2009. Highlights of OSD research next year include $26 million for the Joint Robotics Program; $221.3 million for the High Performance Computing Modernization Program; $55.3 million for the DOD Unmanned Aircraft System Common Development program; and $166.9 million for Prompt Global Strike Capability development.
CET&I spending
The DOD’s CET&I budget request for next year consists of $11.83 billion in CET&T procurement–down 12.4 percent from current-year levels of $13.47 billion–and $11.84 billion in CET&I research and development–up 15.65 percent from current-year levels of $10.23 billion.
The DOD’s CET&I budget request for next year consists of $11.83 billion in CET&T procurement–down 12.4 percent from current-year levels of $13.47 billion–and $11.84 billion in CET&I research and development–up 15.65 percent from current-year levels of $10.23 billion.
The U.S. Army in 2010 is asking for $13.12 billion in CET&I procurement and research–down 2.8 percent from current-year levels of $13.48 billion. The Army’s CET&I request consists of $6.73 billion in communications and electronics procurement, and $6.39 billion in communications and intelligence research and development.
The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in 2010 are asking for $4.13 billion CET&I procurement and research–down 10.44 percent from current-year levels of $4.61 billion. This request consists of $2.04 billion for Navy communications and electronics procurement, as well as $719.33 million in Marine Corps communications and electronics procurement, and $1.38 billion in combined Navy/Marine Corps communications and intelligence research.
The U.S. Air Force in 2010 is asking for $5.55 billion for CET&I procurement and research–up 20.04 percent from current-year levels of $4.62 billion. The Air Force CET&I request consists of $2.29 billion for communications and telecommunications procurement, and $3.26 billion for intelligence and communications research and development.
Independent Pentagon agencies are asking for $869.21 million in CET&I procurement and research in 2010–down 9.87 percent from current-year levels of $964.37 million. This request consists of $57.1 million in communications and electronics procurement, and $812.13 million in intelligence and communications research and development.
