Report on U.S. Military Power 2012 (13)

Major U.S. weapons and equipment R&D and procurement projects are as follows:

1. Aircraft ($54.2 billion)

DoD continues to purchase F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, V-22 Osprey, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, etc. The budget for aircraft R&D and procurement keeps
growing, reaching $54.2 billion, of which $6.798 billion will be used for modifications, $4.523 billion for support, $4.354 billion for technological development, $17.842 billion for procurement of combat aircraft, $3.881 billion for the procurement of UAVs, $9.317 billion for the procurement of cargo aircraft, and $7.473 billion for the procurement of support aircraft.

MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper: $2.5 billion from FY2012 National Defense base budget is appropriated for the purchase of 84 UAVs. DoD’s goal is to field a sufficient number of Predators and Reapers for 50 CSCPA Report on U.S. Military Power 2012 combat air patrols (CAP) by the end of FY 2011, and 65 CAPs by the end of 2013.

RQ-4 Global Hawk: $1.6 billion is appropriated for the purchase of 3 Global Hawks.

RQ-7 Shadow and RQ-11 Raven: Designed to provide ground commanders with reconnaissance capabilities, these UAVs are capable of battlefield surveillance and control, targeting, and damage assessment. $340 million is appropriated for the purchase of 1,272 such UAVs.

C-130J Hercules: A relatively smaller budget, i.e., $1.257 billion, is appropriated for the purchase of 12 C-130Js in FY2012, compared with the purchase of 17 such planes in FY2011.

C-27J Spartan: C-27J is a joint cargo aircraft for intra-theater light-cargo airlift. $599 million is appropriated for the procurement of nine C-27Js in FY2012.

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: The Joint Strike Fighter Program is rescheduled to strike a balance between cost and time. In FY2012, $9.732 billion is appropriated for 32 F-35 fighters, including seven for the Navy, six for the Marine Corps, and 19 for the Air Force.

JPATS T-6B Texan II: In 2000, the Navy and the Air Force chose T-6 as their Joint Primary Aircraft Training System for training programs designed for pilots and navigators. $274 million is ppropriated in FY2012 for 36 T-6Bs.

V-22 Osprey: $2.971 billion is appropriated for 36 V-22 Ospreys, among which there are 30 MV-22Bs and six CV-22Bs.

AH-64D Apache Block 3: DoD is continuing with the AH-64 Block 3 program which includes upgrading AH-64 Apache and the procurement of the upgraded version. In FY2012, $816 million is appropriated for remanufacturing 19 AH-64s to AH-64Ds. The first new helicopter will be funded in the FY2013 National Defense Budget.

CH-47 Chinook: $1.409 billion is appropriated in FY2012 for the acquisition of 47 aircraft, of which 32 will be newly built aircraft and 15 will be remanufactured/Service Extension Program aircraft.

UH-60 Black Hawk: $1.619 billion is appropriated in FY 2012 for the purchase and R&D of 75 UH-60 Black Hawks.

C-17 Globemaster: In FY012, $539 million is appropriated for modifications of the existing C-17s and continued development and testing of C-17.

KC-X New Tanker: $877 million is appropriated in FY2012 for continued R&D of next-generation KC-X tankers.

F-22 Raptor: In FY2012, $1.064 billion is appropriated for the R&D and upgrading of F-22s for enhanced land-attack capabilities.

E-2D Advanced Hawkeye: In FY2012, $1.386 billion is appropriated for the purchase of six E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes.

F/A-18E/F Super Hornet: In FY2012, $2.662 billion is appropriated for the purchase of 28 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and for relevant R&D and testing. It is estimated that in FY2013 28 more such aircraft will be purchased.

EA-18G Growler: In FY2012, $1.125 billion is appropriated for the purchase of 12 EA -18G Growlers and for continued R&D and testing of relevant electronics systems and technology. DoD plans to purchase 12 more such aircraft in FY 2013.

P-8A Poseidon: It is the new generation of multi-mission maritime aircraft, capable of anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, surveillance and reconnaissance,
and intelligence gathering. In FY2012, $2.997 billion is appropriated for the purchase of 11 P-8As and continued R&D and testing of the system. DoD plans to purchase 13 more such aircraft in FY2013.

DoD will also purchase four HH-60M Pave Hawks, 24 MH-60R Seahawks, and 18 MH-60Ss.

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