The Army has sent Congress a wish list of capabilities that, if granted funding, would shore up force in Europe with Armor to fend off Russian aggression against NATO allies.
Atop the document sent to Congress, headed “FY17 476k Army with Modernization Uplift” is listed Armor Formation Upgrades worth $1.8 billion. They include acceleration of the Stryker wheeled combat vehicle double-V hull and engineering change proposal upgrades.
The Army also would accelerate production of the M1 Abrams tanks by two battalion sets – which means rebuilding 52 M1A1 tanks into the M1A2 service life extension version three variant (SLEP v3). Production of 19 M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicles would be paid for. The funding would cover another three battalions’ worth of mortars and research and development for installing a 30 mm cannon on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley alluded to the priorities list at a forum hosted earlier this month by the Association of the U.S. Army.
Next on the list is modernization of the Army’s aviation fleet. It would spend $2.2 billion on 14 new-build Boeing [BA] CH-47F Chinook aircraft, 10 AH-64E Apache and advanced procurement for an additional 10 attack aircraft, plus an additional 592,000 unguided rockets to fire from them, according to the Army list.
Supplemental funding also would pay for a dozen Gray Eagle unmanned aerial systems “with payloads.”
The Army lists $300 million in protection and mobility and ammunition needs.
Another $100 million is needed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) to “increase ground and air electronic warfare capabilities; provides additional cyber capabilities’ procure additional sensors,” according to the Army.
Jibing with President Donald Trump’s Administration’s available foreign policy tenets, the Army’s wish list includes $1.3 billion for air defense. The funds would pay for modifications to the Patriot Missile System and procure additional PAC-3 missiles while accelerating Stinger modifications and service-life extension programs.
At least $500 million would go to modernization of the Army’s command and control capability, which has been a common concern in the era of hacking by adversaries. The funding would provide “additional cyber security and services for the network infrastructure;.”
It also would procure additional radios that the Army has already contracted for with several companies.
The Army would like to accelerate production of Abrams tanks by two battalion’s worth, which would mean recapitalization of 52 M1A1 tanks to the M1A2 Service Life Extension Plan version three (SLEPv3). It also would accelerate Bradlye Fighting Vehicle production by one cavalry squadron set, enumerated as 41 M2A2 vehicles to M2A4 configuration.
Around $500 million would pay for sustainment of current forces and equipment. If appropriated, the funding “increases conventional ammunition demilitarization and issue, storage and receipt operations to decrease ongoing backlog,” the Army says.
“Funds movement of equipment to fill units based on recent force structure decisions. Upgrades equipment and software to incorporate legacy system into the Tactical Enterprise Logistics Suite.”
The Army could use around $400 million for training, which is resonant of Chief of Staff Gen. Milley’s promise to promote readiness above all else.
Another $500 million would go toward installation improvement, which includes “critical restoration and modernization for barracks, family housing and barracks supporting soldiers and families living in substandard, outdated facilities.”
That funding will target “improvements to production and manufacturing conditions at ammunition plants and arsenals.” The funding also specifically would pay for the Cyber Center of Excellence Training at Fort Gordon, Ga.
The total estimated cost of the Army’s wish list is $8.2 billion above the fiscal 2017 budget enacted under the administration of former President Barack Obama.