THE US Department of Defense is seeking to spend $250.7 billion during fiscal year 1998 - a 2.3% drop from the budget approved by the US Congress for the previous year.
The Pentagon budget request is $2.8 billion above what the Clinton Administration planned to request, but it is $2 billion below the FY1997 spending authority.
The request sent to Capitol Hill for approval would delay some planned tactical-aircraft modernisations. As proposed, the Pentagon would not reach a $61 billion level of procurement funding until FY2001, a year later than planned.
As in the past, however, US lawmakers are expected to approve weapons purchases not sought by the Pentagon. The FY1998 request calls for $42.6 billion in procurement and $36 billion for research and development funds.
The US Navy now plans to delay its tactical aircraft build-up by one year, to FY1999. It trimmed its FY1998 aircraft spending plan by 11% from the FY1997 level. It seeks $6 billion for FY1998 and plans to spend $7.7 billion in FY1999.
For example, the USN is seeking $2 billion to procure 20 McDonnell Douglas F-18E/F Super Hornets in FY1998, four fewer than planned. Only 30 Super Hornets would be bought in FY1999, six fewer than expected. The USN still expects to buy 1,000 F-18E/Fs by 2015.
Sikorsky Aircraft, on the other hand, scored gains and losses in the budget request. In 1996, the US Navy said that it would buy four, eight and nine CH-60 Vertical Replenishment Helicopters in the years 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively. New plans call for $31 million in advanced procurement funds in FY1998 and an initial buy of six CH-60s worth $163 million in FY1999. The USN plans to purchase18 CH-60s a year, beginning in FY2000.
The US Army, on the other hand, will end UH-60 Black Hawk production in FY1999, with a final 12 UH-60s worth $127 million. It seeks 18 Black Hawks in FY1998 at a cost of $211 million.
The US Air Force would also delay its planned aircraft modernisation by one year, to FY1999, but core programmes were protected. USAF aircraft procurement in FY1998 would total nearly $6 billion. It would rise to about $8 billion in FY1999, when the first two Lockheed Martin F-22 fighters are due to be bought.
Source: Flight International
