Spending for future and transformational military technologies likely will be curtailed under the fiscal 2008 Defense Authorization conference report passed last week.
Benefiting from those cuts are programs that provide current capabilities and protection to U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The authorization measure calls for $641 billion in spending for 2008 for the military functions of the Defense Department and for activities of the Energy Department. That sum includes $142 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The measure authorizes $8.5 billion for military space activities “that deliver near-term benefits to the warfighter and improve space situational awareness and survivability,” the conference report states. It includes an additional $51.4 million for space situational awareness and space control programs and an increase of $125 million for Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite communications.
“The current needs of our troops must take priority, and redundancy is crucial in protected satellite communications,” the report states.
But Transformational Satellite Communications and Global Positioning System III took hits. Lawmakers cut TSAT by $150 million and GPS III by $100 million.
“Concerns remain that the GPS III space system may be ahead of the development and acquisition plans for ground systems and user equipment,” the report states.
Conferees also reduced funding for the Army’s Future Combat Systems by $229 million, to $3.4 billion. “This funding level supports the aspects of the FCS program that could…deliver needed force-multiplier technologies into the hands of soldiers in the field by 2010,” the report states.
The measure authorizes $2 billion for the Army’s Warfighter Information Network-Tactical Increment 1 (formally the Joint Network Node) but embargoes 50 percent of the funding pending certification that DOD has approved the test plan.
The bill reduces funding for the Missile Defense Agency by $185 million and eliminates all funding for the space test bed, a decrease of $10 million. “This allows for increases in systems that address current needs and vulnerabilities,” the report states.
The authorization bill would also establish a clearinghouse to disseminate knowledge about existing commercial information technologies and an Army Working Capital Fund pilot project that would allow funds to be used for improvements to weapon systems and components. The goal is to decrease procurement lead times, improve coordination with the private sector and reduce overall costs.
Additionally, the conferees want the Defense Science Board to review DOD’s policies and procedures for buying IT and for the department to document and track the use of environmentally preferable products and services. Congress wants a report on DOD’s plans to engage in green contracting.
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