General Speakes: Proposed budget cut threatens military modernization

Above: Future Combat Systems (FCS) is the Pentagon's modernization program consisting of inter-connected manned and unmanned systems, controlled by a common network. Meant to be the core building block for the future, the program is also intended to work across all branches of the military, though it is being developed entirely inside a US Army program office. Precursor FCS technologies are already in use in Iraq and Afghanistan. For the 'Reset' program (short for 'resetting the force) the Army is taking a series of steps to reverse the stress of combat on equipment as forces redeploy. It consists of repairing and modernizing equipment, replacing battle losses, and 'recapitalizing' (acquisition of replacement equipment) along with personnel reorganization and training for the new brigade-centric modular formations which will be an essential part of the Future Combat System.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A congressional threat to slash another 25 percent from next year's budget for a key military modernization program would put the program at greater risk of failure, an Army official said Tuesday...

"Repeated funding cuts directly impact the delivery of essential FCS capabilities to our nation's soldiers," said Mary McAdam, a spokeswoman for Boeing Co.

The latest proposed budget cut would cancel two parts of the program, including manned ground vehicles and a type of unmanned aerial vehicle used for surveillance, Lt. Gen. Stephen Speakes told reporters Tuesday at a Pentagon briefing.

"If these cuts stand, it will have a material impact to Future Combat Systems. We will be doomed to spend the next 20 to 30 years with the existing combat platform that we have today," said Speakes.

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