by Travis Sharp
September 24, 2009
On September 10, 2009, the Senate Appropriations Committee completed its markup of the fiscal year (FY) 2010 Defense Appropriations bill (HR 3326). The Committee bill provides $625.8 billion in total discretionary funding, $3.5 billion less than the President’s request. Of the total, $497.6 billion is for the Department of Defense (DOD) “base” budget and $128.2 billion is for ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The total does not include funding for nuclear weapons activities administered by the Department of Energy, military construction, or military housing.
The full Senate is expected to take up consideration of HR 3326 as early as September 24.
HIGHLIGHTS
Afghanistan Security Forces – The Committee provided $6.6 billion for the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund, $900 million below the administration’s request. The Pentagon has publicly opposed the cut.
Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) – The Committee did not add unrequested funding for the Kinetic Energy Interceptor. The House added $80 million in unrequested funding to its version of the bill in order “to enable the continuation of the program and the leveraging of KEI products and expertise for early intercept capability and other missile defense applications.”
C-17 – The Committee added $2.5 billion for 10 unrequested C-17 strategic transport aircraft. The House added funds for only 3 C-17s in its version of the bill.
Joint Strike Fighter Alternate Engine – The Committee did not include funding for the controversial JSF alternate engine. The House did include funds for the program in its version of the bill.
DDG-51 Destroyer – The Committee added $1.7 billion in unrequested funding for 1 additional DDG-51 (i.e. the Committee wants to buy 2 ships in FY 2010). The House only included funding for 1 ship in its version of the bill.
Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) – The Committee cut 1 ship (and $300 million) from the administration’s plan to build 3 ships for $1.4 billion in FY 2010. The change was made because the cost increased from $460 million per ship to $540 million per ship. The House added $780 million in unrequested funding for an additional ship (i.e. the House wants to buy 4 ships in FY 2010) in its version of the bill.
F/A-18E/F “Super Hornet” Fighter – The Committee added $512.3 million in unrequested funding to the Iraq/Afghanistan budget for 9 additional fighters, bringing the Committee’s preferred total FY 2010 buy to 18 total fighters. The House also included funds for 9 additional fighters in its version of the bill, as well as $108 million for long lead equipment procurement on what it hopes will be a 5-year, 150-aircraft buy of F/A-18E/Fs and EA-18Gs.
Cooperative Threat Reduction Program (“Nunn-Lugar”) – The Committee added $20 million to the administration’s FY 2010 Nunn-Lugar request of $404.1 million. The House provided only the administration’s request ($404.1 million) in its version of the bill.
Missile Defense in Europe (Aegis) – The Committee added $57.6 million for 6 additional SM-3 (Block 1A) interceptors; $41 million in long-lead procurement for a TPY-2 radar; and $35 million for development of more advanced SM-3 variants. Under the Obama administration’s new plan for U.S. missile defense in Europe, SM-3 (Block 1A) interceptors aboard sea-based Aegis destroyers, along with a TPY-2 radar, will be deployed by 2011 to protect against Iranian ballistic missiles. Between 2011 and 2020, the administration plans to deploy more advanced SM-3 variants to protect against potentially evolving Iranian missile capabilities.
Sea-Based Strategic Deterrent (SBSD) – The Committee included $387.5 million in requested funding to “initiate technology demonstration and design efforts” for the SBSD, the next-generation ballistic missile submarine slated to replace U.S. Ohio-class subs (which will begin to retire in 2027). The SBSD program is meant to coincide with the retirement of the United Kingdom’s Vanguard-class subs and create, as the Committee said, “efficiencies and cost savings in the design of a common missile compartment.” The Committee noted that “Both the forthcoming Nuclear Posture Review and an analysis of alternatives are expected to inform key decisions about the specifications and performance of the Ohio class replacement.”
FUNDING PROVISIONS (BASE BUDGET)
Total Funding
Request: $501.1 billion
Committee: $497.6 billion ($3.5 billion below request)
Personnel
Request: $125.3 billion
Committee: $124.8 billion ($500 million below request)
Operations & Maintenance
Request: $156.4 billion
Committee: $154.0 billion ($2.4 billion below request)
Procurement
Request: $105.2 billion
Committee: $108.0 billion ($2.8 billion above request)
Research, Development, Testing & Evaluation
Request: $78.6 billion
Committee: $78.5 billion ($100 million below request)
Revolving & Management Funds
Request: $3.1 billion
Committee: $2.7 billion ($400 million below request)
Other DOD & Related Agencies
Request: $32.4 billion
Committee: $32.2 billion ($200 million below request)
DoD Cooperative Threat Reduction Program (“Nunn-Lugar”)
Request: $404.1 million
Committee: $424.1 million ($20 million above request)
MAJOR WEAPONS SYSTEMS (Figures include procurement, research &development, and modifications)
Ballistic Missile Defense
Request: $9.2 billion, of which $7.7 billion is for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and $1.5 billion is for Army programs (i.e. Patriot, THAAD)
Committee: $9.2 billion, of which $7.7 billion is for MDA and $1.5 billion is for Army programs
Aircraft
F/A-22 “Raptor” Fighter
Request: $1.0 billion for upgrades/maintenance; no funds for new aircraft
Committee: $841 million
Joint Strike Fighter
Request: $10.4 billion for 30 aircraft (4 Navy, 16 Marine Corps, 10 Air Force)
Committee: $10.3 billion for 30 aircraft (4 Navy, 16 Marine Corps, 10 Air Force); no funds were included for the alternate engine
F/A-18E/F “Super Hornet” Fighter
Request: $1.2 billion for 9 aircraft in base budget
Committee: $1.2 billion for 9 aircraft in base budget; $512.3 million for 9 unrequested aircraft in war budget
EA-18G Radar Jamming Aircraft
Request: $1.6 billion for 22 aircraft
Committee: $1.6 billion for 22 aircraft
V-22 “Osprey” Tilt-rotor
Request: $2.6 billion for 35 aircraft (30 Marine Corps and 5 Air Force)
Committee: $2.6 billion for 35 aircraft (30 Marine Corps and 5 Air Force)
C-17 Globemaster Transport Aircraft
Request: $720 million (base budget only) for shutdown activities and modification
Committee: $3.2 billion (base budget only), of which $2.5 billion is unrequested funding for 10 additional C-17s
Shipbuilding
DDG-1000 “Zumwalt” Destroyer
Request: $1.6 billion to complete the third, and final, ship in the class
Committee: $1.9 billion to complete the third, and final, ship in the class
DDG-51 “Arleigh Burke” Destroyer
Request: $2.2 billion for 1 ship
Committee: $4 billion for 2 ships
LPD-17 “San Antonio” Amphibious Assault Ship
Request: $1.1 billion to complete the 10th ship and advance procurement for the 11th
Committee: $1.1 billion to complete the 10th ship and advance procurement for the 11th
SSN-774 “Virginia” Class Submarine
Request: $4.2 billion for 1 ship
Committee: $4.2 billion for 1 ship
Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)
Request: $1.9 billion for 3 ships
Committee: $1.5 billion for 2 ships
Army Programs
Stryker Armored Vehicle
Request: $389 million for enhancements and engineering
Committee: $364 million
Future Combat Systems (FCS)
Request: $2.9 billion for development of the restructured FCS program
Committee: $2.5 billion for development of the restructured FCS program
UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter
Request: $1.4 billion (base budget only) for 79 helos
Committee: $1.4 billion (base budget only) for 79 helos
IRAQ-AFGHANISTAN BUDGET FUNDING PROVISIONS
Total Funding: $128.2 billion
Personnel: $14.1 billion
Operations & Maintenance: $86.9 billion
Procurement: $22.2 billion
Research, Development, Testing & Evaluation: $293.6 million
Revolving & Management Funds: $412.2 million
Defense Health Program: $1.6 billion
Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities: $353.6 million
Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund: $2.0 billion
SOURCES
Senate Appropriations Committee Press Release
Senate Appropriations Committee Report 111-74 (PDF)
