The House Appropriations Committees Defense panel just voted out its 2008 Pentagon budget today.
(Photo: Boeing FCS)
A release from the committee shows reductions in the Armys Future Combat Systems program, a cut in missile defense spending and the cancellation of the Armys Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program.
The committee boosted spending on shipbuilding, bought Stryker vehicles, F-35 Lightning II JSFs, MV and CV-22 Ospreys and F-22 Raptors.
The committee also put restrictions on the use of security contractors in combat zones, curtailed any funds for permanent bases in Iraq and enacted language that prohibits torture of detainees.
One surprise is the inclusion of $288 million in R&D funds to continue the Marine Corps Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle Program. This replacement for the current AAV was considered by many to be all but dead going into the budget process. But now its being kept on life support. The EFV is indeed a revolutionary leap over the current AAV, but its complexity has kept the program in limbo due to delays and performance issues all along.
Top Navy acquisition officials have proposed that maybe the performance specs should be reduced to match the reality experienced by engineers in testing. Its unclear as of now if that has happened, but it looks as if House appropriators were convinced enough of the Marine Corps case to keep the speedy gator on track.
Click HERE to view the preliminary HAC-D report.
CORRECTION: From HAC-D…“For the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter — funding for production is zeroed out, but research and development activities will continue.”
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Let’s spend billions more on aircraft when we already dominate the air. Incase you missed it, for the last 6 years we have fought a ground war. My bad I remember hearing about the awesome Iraqi & Afgani air forces. No wait that might have been that great Somoli & Bosnian Air Farce.
There must be some horrific pork in the appropriations. Let our 58Deltas wear out what going to replace them?
Where are all the new members of the House with Military Backgrounds?
I quess they were Politicians in Uniform any way. Now at least they show their true colors.
Our Prayer and Support for our Few True Warriors
Good to hear that they didn’t give up on the new commanche. That thing is hella cool… looks like something out of robo cop.
The EPV is pretty neat too… I’ve read it’s performance indicators are mixed as some say that the issues its facing are minor… kinda reminds me a bit of a lemon…. you keep trying to fix it…
Maybe it’ll get it’s bugs worked out… although, I think the EPV is a gas guzzler too? But hell looks like the fastest amphibious vehicle ever built
I heard before that people in the army wanted to cancel the new Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter.I’ll believe it when I see it concerning the F-35 being built.It is like our government is purposely running down our military equipment.Pretty soon,we’ll be as broken down militarily as the Soviet Union was.I’ve heard all of this talk about UAVs,UCAVs,armed UGVs,but nothing,except for the Reaper UAV,has materialized concerning these “marvels.”
Oh ya, they really love our troops.
The army always gets the shaft.
I seem to remember some B-2s,F16s, Cobras,laser guided bombs,etc. If I’m on the ground I would rather have some identified flying objects watching my 6.
Of course its not like congress is getting shot at or blown up in the streets of Iraq. They just slap a yellow ribbons on their cars and they are supporting the troops!! when in reality they only care about their districts to make jobs and their own reelection. as long as i get reelected who gives a dam about rifles that jam, how crappy the stryker is , or how no one had up armored Humvee’s. as long as lockmart profits are up its all good.
“Save” money to buy votes….brought to us by the Quislings who lead us
Interesting, and I’d love to hear the positive:
Troops on the ground, What do you want? This might be as good a place as any to tell Washington what’s really needed and wanted.
So, let ‘r rip!
Zeroing funding for Armed Recon Helicopter but sustaining R&D funds is really saying that the politicians will keep the contractors and civilian engineers and managers that went over budget employed but screw the warrior that desperately needs the upgraded capability.
What I want to know is why they are scrapping production of the Army Recon Helicopter and then they’re going off and buying that piece of crap Osprey. That thing has cost the military more money than it is worth and has too many times failed to show great results. I say move the funding from the Osprey to the ARH at least. Of course if I had it my way none of it would be cut. Welcome to a left-wing Congress
Do any of you do any homework before you comment. I wonder with some of the rightwing remarks you make as though your are talking about something you know about, but really don’t. A lot of programs are cut by congress when they fail to meet the expectations of the DOD. These cuts are usually made when they DOD requests them because for what ever reason the contractor has failed to deliver. The osprey is a classic example. The Marines desperately need this type of aircraft for their current and future light mobile mission. This is why congress is continuing to provide funding with the hope the bugs can be worked out. As TB eluded to above, the Army killed the Bell Recon helo because it sucked. Do a little research and remember that more democrats in congress actually served in the military unlike their coward counter parts on the republican side. Oh yes; I did the research!
Tom,
The ARH has not been killed. Congress is not giving any production money, but they are continuing to give R&D money. You don’t kill a program and continue to fund its R&D.
From what I understand Bell has sucked it up and is fixing the problems while giving a nice price break to the government.
Err… for good info on the Armed Recce Helo program, see: http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/comanches-child-the-arh70-armed-reconnaissance-helicopter-updated-02421/#more
It’s a ‘focus’ article, updated every time there’s news on that subject. It might explain why DOD is not happy with Bell.
Can someone tell us all what’s needed on the ground? It sure looks strange to see Strykers and Bradleys with World War Two – type external skirts around them!
“Oh yes; I did the research!”
Well according to Jeff you didn’t!
Don’t get so political Tom-just as many folks from both sides of the aisle served.
The ARH is NOT cancelled. They got some bad intel. Watch for a retraction/correction.
I am sure there were a number of more urgent needs for personal vote appropreations. We are only looking at a number of meaningless military members who will die as a result of funds needed for “non-connected RIDER appropreations” tied to the military appropreations bill. As a matter of fact, I know from elected officials representing my district. Unless someone out there knows an individual or group who knows how to get a national referendom vote, requiring that “Rider Bills/Appropreations” must be directly related to the Bill/Appropreation, we are stuck with this situation. It is even very difficult to find out what the amount of the MILITARY appropreations actually is…. its not the number they’ll be showing.
In the Beach City is such fearfulness, I am owning many Archlord money in my pocket.