Defensiebegrotingen en -problematiek, niet NL

[Harald]

Verschuivingen binnen het amerikaanse defensiebudget

Pentagon Wants to Move $3.9B Around
By KATE BRANNEN
Published: 8 Jul 2010 17:44 

The Pentagon wants to shift nearly $4 billion in previously allocated funding, much of it within the Army's budget to buy arms and gear needed in Afghanistan, according to a July 2 omnibus reprogramming request.

Defense News obtained a copy of the 89-page request, signed by Pentagon comptroller Robert Hale and sent to Congress for review.

The Army's Bradley Fighting Vehicle takes a big hit: $200 million is to be moved to higher-priority items, according to the request. Earlier this year, the Army asked permission to trim Bradley funding by $154 million; Congress has yet to make a decision on that request.

A similar cut moves $143 million out of research and development funding for the Army's Combat Vehicle Improvement program. The funds are available because the Pentagon has delayed its decision to upgrade the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and the Abrams tank, according to the reprogramming request.

To support operations, the Pentagon wants to shift $100 million to purchase 1,500 One System Remote Video Terminal, the Army's version of the Air Force's ROVER system, which provides soldiers access to full-motion video shot by UAVs.

The Pentagon would also like to shift $10 million to start developing a replacement for the M113 armored personnel carrier.

"These funds will inform the Army on the current state-of-the-art M113 replacement options, potentially provide a forum for industrial teaming allowing the Army to refine its requirement document and explore current vehicles for adaptability to the M113 requirements," the document said.

The Pentagon also shifts $35 million in Army funding for the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) to the Navy's research and development accounts for the same program.

The "funds are available because the Rifleman radio is not prepared for Milestone C in fiscal year 2010 due to deficiencies found during the Limited User Test," the document said.

Instead, the money will be spent on accelerating the delivery of the Handheld, Manpack, Small Form Fit (HMS) systems for test and potential deployment to theater, according to the document.

The Pentagon also reduces funding for the Joint Assault Bridge by $68 million, citing a program restructuring that shifted authority for the program from the Marine Corps to the Army. Low-rate initial production has been delayed until fiscal year 2013, according to the document.

For the Air Force, the Pentagon generally shifts money from procurement accounts to spending on personnel.

The Pentagon would like to cut $36 million from the Air Force's Global Hawk program.

"Obligations are late due to delays in the development test program, late and poor quality proposals from contractors, and reprioritization of acquisition activities to meet urgent Combatant Commander requirements," the document reads. The Pentagon cuts an additional $18 million from the program later in the request.

Most of the $74 million plus-up allocated to the Navy for administration activities - $54 million - was needed for increased costs for personnel security investigations. USS Independence, the second littoral combat ship and the first ship from the General Dynamics-Austal USA team, received an additional $5.3 million to meet higher than anticipated costs to correct problems discovered on sea trials. The effort to re-start DDG 51-class destroyer production with a new Flight III version got another $6.7 million to create a capability development document.

The MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned aerial aircraft received a 50 percent plus-up of $13 million to support completion of operational evaluation (OPEVAL) efforts to take place on board the frigate Halyburton. Continuation of the OPEVAL was necessary after the 2009-2010 effort on board the frigate McInerney encountered numerous technical challenges and discrepancies. The money became available when the service eliminated two of five aircraft it planned to buy this year due to the availability of airframes transferred from the Army.

The Naval Special Warfare Scan Eagle effort to operate unmanned aerial surveillance and attack aircraft in the Mideast received a boost of $8 million to buy replacement air vehicles and spare parts.

A Navy program restructuring effort paid off with a reduction of $4.8 million in the Aerial Common Sensor program.

The Marines Corps' Harvest Hawk effort to give a rapid-response fire support capability to KC-130J Hercules aerial tankers got a plus-up of $1.3 million for modernized avionics.

Accelerated procurement of the Transportable Radar Surveillance Model 2 radar (TPY-2) radar led to a new start addition of $191 million. The funds were available after delays were encountered in fielding batteries of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile.

An omnibus reprogramming request is sent to Congress each year. It is meant to shift funding to more urgently needed items. The request will be reviewed by the four congressional defense committees, who have the option to reject any of the requested changes.

According to the documents, $234 million is available in the Army's home station operation and maintenance accounts because several units deployed in Iraq were unable to return home due to "delayed Iraqi elections and the increased security posture in Iraq."

Alternatively, $70 million is available in Marine Corps operation and maintenance funds because their combat operations in Iraq were curtailed earlier than previously planned.

In the reprogramming, the Pentagon directs money toward equipment needed in Afghanistan, including Army helicopters, which are in high demand, as well as money to improve secure networked communications in the country.

The Pentagon is requesting $45 million for U.S. Central Command's Operation Earnest Voice (OEV) program, whose funding, according to the documents, was reduced by Congress in the 2010 budget.

"The OEV program is strongly endorsed by the Commander, USCENTCOM, and serves as USCENTCOM's primary and enduring non-kinetic weapon in its irregular warfare arsenal for countering adversary information operations."

The money will go toward "products to counter radical ideology and influence key audiences across the region via Internet or other mediums."

According to the documents, the program "provides the capability to engage audience on native language (Arabic and Urdu) web blogs, chat rooms, and social networks."

-- Christopher P. Cavas contributed to this report.

Bron : http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4700571&c=AME&s=AIR

[Lex]

Air Force Programs Hard Hit in French Budget Cut Effort

PARIS - The government plans to postpone a number of French Air Force programs, including replacement of the inflight refueling fleet and the 700 million euro ($888 million) upgrade of Mirage 2000D aircraft, in a bid to slash 3.5 billion euros from the defense budget, member of parliament Jean-Claude Viollet said.
Among the programs to be delayed are the upgrade of the fleet of Mirage 2000D fighter-bombers, acquisition of the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft and level four of the SCCOA national air command-and-control system, Defense Minister Hervé Morin told a hearing of the parliamentary Defense Committee on July 7, Viollet said.
According to defense sources, Morin told the committee that some elements of the Scorpion land systems modernization program also would be postponed.
An option to buy a small number of Falcon 2000 jets to replace the Falcon 700 for the government comes due in the next few months and is under consideration.
Defense sources said Morin told lawmakers that major programs - such as the Barracuda nuclear attack submarine, Felin infantry gear, FREMM multimission frigate, Rafale fighter and VBCI armored vehicle - would escape the budget cuts.
Studies are now being done on how to implement the delays to mitigate the effects, a defense official said.
The purchase of A400M airlifters will go ahead without any change in numbers, although there are questions whether Germany will buy all 60 planned units.
The revised defense budget for 2011 will be 30.15 billion euros, 30.5 billion in 2012 and 31 billion in 2013, Morin told the committee.
The figures published in the 2009-14 military budget law were 29.65 billion for 2011, 30.32 billion for 2012, and 30.73 billion for 2013.
The 3.5 billion euros of cuts was a significant contribution by the Defense Ministry, but would leave the main operational capabilities outlined in the military budget law intact, Defense Ministry spokesman Laurent Teisseire told journalists July 8. The budget reduction would not affect staff numbers, he said.

Defense News,
Published: 8 Jul 2010 13:33

[Lex]

Germany Debates Steep Cuts in Aircraft, Ships

BONN - According to an internal working paper, the German military might retire large numbers of planes, helicopters and ships as well as reduce buys of new weapons.
According to a July 7 report by the German newspaper Bild, this could save up to 9.3 billion euros ($11.7 billion) over the long run.
The 23-page paper, "Prioritization Material Investments - Recommended Actions," would affect all services and many major defense projects. However, a Defense Department spokesman said no decisions have been made.
"This paper is only a basis for upcoming discussions in the department and parliament," he said.
He pointed out that Defense Secretary Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg would reserve the right to amend the paper.
The paper itself suggests retiring 15 of 86 Transall transport planes immediately and reducing the planned purchase of its successor, the A400M. The paper also calls for the immediate retirement of 100 of 185 Tornado fighter jets and the scrapping of the last tranche of the Eurofighter, which contains 37 planes.
Defense Department experts also suggest scrapping the Tailaron UAV being developed by EADS in favor of immediate procurement of the Saateg AA medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV and an advanced version of the Heron UAV.
While the future of the tri-nation Medium Extended Air Defense System had been subject to discussion, the new paper does not suggest it be abandoned.
According to media reports, the Bundeswehr might also buy only 80 instead of 122 NH90 type helicopters and cut new tiger attack helicopter buys by half from 80 to 40.
The paper recommends the German Navy retire eight frigates, 10 fast-attack boats and 21 Sea King helicopters over the medium and long term. At the moment, it owns 21 Sea Kings, 10 fast-attack boats and 15 frigates. The number of new F125 expeditionary class frigates also could be reduced from four to three.
While ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, one of the members of the consortium to build the F125, did not want to comment, an EADS spokesman said no decisions had been made.
"We are convinced the constructive dialogue will continue and that research and development will always be protected and considered," the spokesman said.

AFP
Published: 8 Jul 2010 12:22

[Elzenga]

7.8 miljard pond..

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LDE6212JZ.htm

[KapiteinRob]

Ik kan niet echt terugvinden hoeveel de britten er aan uitgeven.

De Britten geven in percentages van het BNI ongeveer de helft van ons uit. In absolute bedragen is dat nog steeds bijna 2x zo veel als Nederland. In beide gevallen onmiddelijk mee stoppen. Een potje voor noodhulp bij rampen e.d. en verder eerst maar beens de megaproblemen in eigen land aanpakken i.p.v. geld in bodemloze putten te smijten.....

De cijfertjes voor de periode 2005-2008 op een link geplaatst op de BUZA-site.

[KapiteinRob]

Alleen de gezondheidszorg en ontwikkelingssamenwerking ontspringen de dans.

Die Engelsen zijn net zo van de pot gerukt als wij. In eigen land stapelen de problemen zich op, maar zij en wij blijven voor Sinterklaas spelen in de rimboe......

[Elzenga]

Londen bereidt zwaardere bezuinigingen voor

Uitgegeven:    4 juli 2010 07:40
Laatst gewijzigd:    4 juli 2010 07:40

LONDEN - De Britse regering heeft aan haar ministeries gevraagd om vergaande bezuinigen voor te bereiden. De departementen moeten nagaan hoe ze hun begrotingen tot 40 procent kunnen verlagen.

Dat heeft het ministerie van Financiën in Londen bekendgemaakt.

De ministeries van Defensie en Onderwijs worden enigszins gespaard. Zij moeten zich voorbereiden op bezuinigingen van respectievelijk 10 en 20 procent.

Alleen de gezondheidszorg en ontwikkelingssamenwerking ontspringen de dans. Een woordvoerder van Financiën benadrukt dat de streefcijfers niet definitief zijn.

Groot-Brittannië heeft een begrotingstekort van ongeveer 163 miljard pond (ruim 197 miljard euro). Dit is meer dan 11 procent van het bruto binnenlands product.

© ANP

[andré herc]

Nato chief: defence cuts head military in 'wrong direction'
TUESDAY, 22 JUNE 2010 10:25    RC    NEWS 

Rasmussen was critical of the government's budget cuts

The military's proposed budget cuts would see it pull out of a project aimed at protecting ground soldiers

Defence Minister Gitte Lillelund Bech's announcement that the state is set to abandon three upcoming Nato projects has former prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen breaking his promise not to get involved in Danish politics, reports Politiken newspaper.

At a security conference in Brussels yesterday, Rasmussen – who is now Nato's secretary general – said the government's decision is taking Denmark 'in the wrong direction'.

'When I left Denmark I promised I wouldn't stick my nose into Danish politics,' said Rasmussen. 'But while I understand the need for budget cuts sometimes, a country's defence and security shouldn't be a job creation project.'

One of Rasmussen's biggest concerns with the proposed cuts is its decision not to contribute a pledged 380 million kroner towards Nato's purchase of unmanned military surveillance planes as part of its Alliance Ground Surveillance project.

Bech said that although the government is still ready to make the cuts, she understood Rasmussen's concerns and said the criticism was part of the former PM's role as Nato secretary general.

cphpost.dk

[Lex]

Het VK zal vermoedelijk afzien van het contract voor 24 nieuwe SAR heli's en doorvliegen met de huidige, doch wel gemodificeerde SKG's.
Zie: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/agustawestland-to-upgrade-old-sea-kings-if-new-air-fleet-is-axed-2005209.html

[Mourning]

Mee eens, Elzenga. Maar ga je het dan vergelijken wat andere partijen dan hebben verteld mbt Defensie dan is het HELEMAAL huilen met de pet op! Van D'66 tot en met de PVV. Allemaal nog veel grotere generalisaties en nog minder woorden of woorden zoals JSF niet aanschaffen, gevechtseenheden afschaffen, cursus vreedzaam overgeven invoeren e.d.  .

[Elzenga]

Op weg naar een Kabinet
De defensie woordvoerders van het CDA en het VVD, blz 4 /blz 9

http://www.kvmo.nl/marineblad/pdf/marineblad_jun10_volledig.pdf

Dat was geen eenvoudig leesvoer ....veel grote woorden en generalisaties...ik mis inzicht en diepgang. Word hier niet vrolijk van. Maar goed, zal een "fllering" achterwege laten hier...

[Mourning]

De vraag is niet waar je investeerd, de vraag is waar lekt al dat geld nu eigenlijk naar weg. We kunnen met meer geld steeds minder, dat heeft een oorzaak en die moet je aanpakken. Dat geldt overigens voor alle ministeries.

Het motief voor samenwerking moet inderdaad niet alleen bezuinigen zijn. Al vind ik dat zelfs nog niet zo erg. Want het doel heiligt soms de middelen.

Volledig mee eens!

[andré herc]

Op weg naar een Kabinet
De defensie woordvoerders van het CDA en het VVD, blz 4 /blz 9

http://www.kvmo.nl/marineblad/pdf/marineblad_jun10_volledig.pdf

[mikemans]

De macht en het doorzettingsvermogen van een land of economische unie als de EU wordt door wel wat meer bepaald dan alleen haar militaire middelen.

Alleen als de vijaard zich aan de overlegstrucutuur houd. Als de machtsverhoudingen maar asymetrisch genoeg worden gaat het vanzelf mis. Nederland is in rap tempo bezig im haar defensiecapaciteit op te heffen, dat is tot nog toe altijd een voorteken van wereldoorlog geweest.

De vraag is daarbij steeds waar je in investeert en wat wijs is gezien de internationale ontwikkelingen.

De vraag is niet waar je investeerd, de vraag is waar lekt al dat geld nu eigenlijk naar weg. We kunnen met meer geld steeds minder, dat heeft een oorzaak en die moet je aanpakken. Dat geldt overigens voor alle ministeries.

Het motief voor samenwerking moet inderdaad niet alleen bezuinigen zijn. Al vind ik dat zelfs nog niet zo erg. Want het doel heiligt soms de middelen.

Als er bezuinigt moet worden moet je prioriteiten stellen, maslov is een goede raadgever daarin.

[Elzenga]

"In de Verenigde Staten worden de militaire uitgaven beschouwd als een hefboom voor het economisch herstel en heeft het Congres voor 2011 een defensiebegroting van 726 miljard dollar [608 miljard euro] goedgekeurd. Zelfs als we hiervan de 159 miljard dollar aftrekken die aan de oorlogen in Irak en Afghanistan zullen worden besteed, dan houdt het Pentagon nog 23 miljard dollar meer over dan voor 2010. Ook in China en India worden de defensiebegrotingen nog steeds verhoogd."

Dat bevestigt wat ik al eerder dacht...de VS gebruikt zijn krijgsmacht nu die nog zo groot en oppermachtig is om de omstandigheden te creëren voor haar economisch herstel en het behoud van voldoende toevoer van grondstoffen e.d. Het is de vraag of dit voldoende zal zijn...het is ook de vraag of de EU hier niet moet oppassen de grote verliezer te worden...of zo meteen te afhankelijk van zij die de grondstofregio's beheersen.