Weapons funding being squeezed, group says

[unhappycamper]

Weapons funding being squeezed, group says
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Apr 17, 2008 7:50:46 EDT

A new report from a defense industry association warns that money for modernizing weapons systems is being squeezed out of the military budget by personnel and operating costs and by the need to reset the force after extended and heavy use in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The report by the Aerospace Industries Association, released Tuesday, says U.S. national security “is now in serious danger.”

“Across the fleet, aircraft are aging as never before,” the report says. “All of our military services are in need of modernization and recapitalization as a result of deferred procurement following the fall of the Soviet Union. Upgrading key national defense capabilities and maintaining readiness will require a generation-long national security investment strategy.”

Because the report comes from the AIA’s National Security Council, it is no surprise that it finds a “particularly acute” need for military aircraft.

The funding problem could be resolved by increasing the overall defense budget, but the report says that will not be as simple as it sounds. It predicts that defense budget increases will be made more difficult by a combination of political pressure to cut defense spending after U.S. involvement is reduced in Iraq, and competing budgetary needs, including growing federal entitlements, budget deficits and “pent-up demand” for spending on nondefense programs.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/04/military_warcosts_041608w/



uhc comment: This is a pre-emptive strike by a defense industry association.

Of course they neglected to mention that the 2009 'defense' budget is $735,700,000,000, new airplanes cost $239,000,000 (F-35) and $355,000,000 (F-22) each, the new LCS ships cost $600,000,000 a pop, new submarines cost $2,500,000,000, etc. etc. etc.

Get over it boys, the piggy bank is running out of money.

[But....]

1. And of course they miss the big point....

we need to invest in our troops. Without people to use them all their over priced systems/planes/ships/etc... are just dust gathering toys.:argh: