The president’s fiscal year 2013 budget–the first based on the new strategic guidance–requests $184.6 billion for the Army comprised of $134.6 billion in the base request and $50 billion for overseas contingency operations (OCO).
The budget request follows the service’s first priority: train and equip soldiers for Afghanistan, Maj. Gen. Phillip Mcghee, Army budget director, said in a Pentagon budget briefing yesterday.
The service budget request also supports efforts toward an adaptable and flexible, modernized force for 2020, with its emphasis on the network.
The budget requests $893 million in procurement and $278 million in continued development in research, development test and evaluation (RDT&E) for the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T), which supports tactical communications. RDT&E funds would provide WIN-T with an on-the-move capability in Increment 2.
Additionally, the budget requests $556 million for joint tactical radio system radios for the unit and soldier level investing in 4,589 two-channel manpack radios and 5,887 AN/PRC-154 Rifleman Radios. The radios and WIN-T are produced by General Dynamics [GD].
The Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) is a “tremendous success” and a key to the Army’s modernization strategy, said Army Budget Deputy Director Barbara Bonessa during a budget briefing. The budget requests $214 million for the NIE.
As part of the cost-cutting measures at DoD, the Army plans to save around $5 billion in program terminations, such as the Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance Surveillance System (EMARSS) being developed by a team led by Boeing [BA]. Cost savings here would be in the $1.2 billion range, added Bonessa.
Another program termination is the Family of Medium Tactical Trucks, produced by Oshkosh [OSK], with savings in the $1.4 billion range. “Our last planned investment” is in the FY ’13 budget of $374 million for 1,397 systems, Bonessa said.
Further, the Humvee Recap Modernized Expanded Capacity Vehicle program would be terminated. However, in the OCO budget, $271 million would modernize 2,128 vehicles returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, she said.
The Army’s procurement request of $19.6 billion, down from $21.5 billion last year, supports continued aviation modernization. The request includes $1.2 billion for 44 Chinook CH-47F helicopters, 25 new aircraft and 19 remanufactured aircraft. Bonessa said a second multi-year contract is expected in 2013. Boeing produces the CH-47F.
The Army is accelerating the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI)’ MQ-1 Gray Eagle unmanned aerial system with $518 million for 19 air vehicles. Bonessa said that adds two more companies of the long-dwell wide area reconnaissance aircraft, raising the total to 17 companies equipped with the UAS.
The budget request also would buy 58 Stryker NBC Reconnaissance vehicles, produced by General Dynamics. Another $61 million will provide increased Stryker capability improvements.
The budget request for $8.9 billion in RDT&E will support $72.3 million for the Army-Marine Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. The request for proposals for the engineering and manufacturing development of the vehicle with increased survivability and mobility was released last month (Defense Daily, Jan. 27).
Additionally, the service is moving forward with the Ground Combat Vehicle, though what Defense Department Comptroller though delays called “contract issues” caused a reduction in funds. The vehicle is to provide more soldier protection and lethality. Still, the department requests $639.9 million for the program.
Modernization also supports $194.2 million for Abrams tank and Bradley Fighting Vehicle improved intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. General Dynamics produced the Abrams, BAE Systems the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
The Apache Block III, the latest iteration of the multi-mission helicopter, request is for $1.18 billion for 50 aircraft, 40 remanufactured aircraft and 10 new build aircraft. Boeing is the prime contractor. Bonessa said a second multi-year contract could be expected in 2013.
The Sikorsky [UTX] UH-60 Black Hawk is supported in the budget for $1.3 billion for 59 aircraft in different variants. The FY ’13 program supports continuing the five year multi-year procurement contract for fiscal year 2012-2016 that the service said is on schedule and within budget.