The Army is hoping for additional funding, over $7.5 billion, that it could not include in its fiscal 2017 budget request. This “wish list” helps to guide Congress in considering what additional funding it might give to the services as it hashes out its appropriations.
The Army particularly wants more funding in aviation procurement and modernization, force management, and training and military construction projects, according to a draft version of the list.
The Army is requesting an additional $795.9 million for Army modernization, which includes five more AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, 17 more LUH-72 Lakota light utility helicopters and 24 UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters. The funding would also include Assured Position Navigation and Timing enhancements, in addition to CH-47 Chinook modifications.
Additionally, the Army is requesting funding to buy 12 more UH-60 Mike-models and five CH-47s to restore funding reduced to meet budget control caps imposed by Congress. The funding would include improvements to aircraft survivability research and procurement.
To enhance training, which has suffered in previous fiscal years, the Army would like $1.35 billion to build capacity for home station training and the flying hours program, which has taken painful decrements in past budgets.
To read more about the Army’s requests, click here.
