Thursday, January 21, 2010

US Army's war budget includes big weapons orders

* Boeing, Sikorsky helicopters get funding
* Over 6,000 Humvees included

Defense News Updates ~ WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Army's proposed $9.3 billion war budget for Afghanistan includes significant funding for new helicopters, ground vehicles, missiles and ammunition, and upgrades to existing equipment, according to a Dec. 23 draft budget document obtained by Reuters.
Following is a list of major items included in the Army request, which is part of the $33 billion the Obama administration is seeking for emergency war funding in fiscal 2011 to pay for a major buildup of U.S. troops in Afghanistan:
-- $486 million in targeting and surveillance sensors built by Raytheon Co (RTN.N), the Base Expeditionary Targeting and Surveillance System
-- $751 million in orders for Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, which would likely be built by BAE Systems Plc (BAES.L) under a bridge contract from its existing pact
-- $1.07 billion to rebuild and repair 6,670 existing Humvee trucks, work that would likely be done at military depots rather than benefiting any single contractor
-- $445 million in modifications to better protect existing Stryker vehicles built by General Dynamics Corp (GD.N) from attacks in Afghanistan
-- $105 million to replace three Boeing Co (BA.N) CH-47 helicopters that were damaged in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as $47 million in modifications for CH-47 cargo helicopters
-- $199 million for modifications to the video feed capabilities of 288 AH-64 Apache helicopters, also built by Boeing
-- $187 million in orders for 15 new Kiowa Warrior helicopters built by Bell Helicopter, a unit of Textron Inc (TXT.N)
-- $190 million in Hellfire missile orders for Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N)
-- $113 million in TOW 2 heavy anti-tank missiles built by Raytheon
-- $188 million in orders for 418 Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles built by Oshkosh Corp (OSK.N)
-- over $700 million in orders for ammunition, which would largely benefit Alliant Techsystems Inc (ATK.N) and General Dynamics
-- $159 million in high-frequency radios built by Harris Corp (HRS.N), and
-- $226 million in Warlock jamming systems built by ITT Corp (ITT.N).
The budget plan also includes significant funding to increase purchases of unmanned aerial vehicles, and to step up intelligence and surveillance efforts, according to the document. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)

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