Pentagon seeks slight trims in military spending for electronics and CET&I procurement and research
WASHINGTON. U.S. military spending in substantial electronics accounts is set for slight reductions next year as trims are expected for procurement and research in military communications, electronics, telecommunications, and intelligence (CET&I) technologies.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is asking Congress for $12.5 billion for CET&I procurement and research in the fiscal 2018 proposed DOD budget, which is down by $535.1 million, or 4.1 percent, over 2017 levels. DOD's 2018 spending request was released late last month. These accounts contained $15.1 billion as recently as fiscal 2012.
The DOD request for CET&I procurement and research does not include military activities with substantial electronics content, such as aircraft avionics, vetronics, and missile guidance.
When all of these additional DOD electronics-heavy accounts are added, Pentagon spending levels for military electronics and defense electro-optics next year could approach $90 billion, industry analysts believe.
The DOD's CET&I budget request for fiscal 2018, which begins next October, includes $9.28 billion for procurement, which is down 2.3 percent from the Pentagon's 2017 request of $9.49 billion.
The proposed budget also requests $3.21 billion for CET&I research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E), which is down from the 2017 requested level of $3.54 billion.
Highlights of the Army's CET&I 2018 procurement budget request includes $490.49 million for the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) Ground Forces Tactical Network; $161.38 million for the Defense Enterprise Wideband Satellite Communications Systems; $355.35 million for the Handheld Manpack Small Form Fit (HMS) digital radio; $107.8 million for communications security; $242.51 million for the Distributed Common Ground System - Army (DCGS-A); and $53.4 million for defensive cyber security operations.
Highlights of the Navy's CET&I request include $331.05 million for fast attack submarine acoustic equipment; $240.43 million for AN/SLQ-32 shipboard electronic warfare (EW) equipment; $300.1 million for the Fixed Surveillance System deep-sea sonar system; $322.75 million for the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) tactical shipboard network; $104 million for ship communications automation; and $102.2 million for the AN/SQQ-89 surface anti-submarine warfare combat system.
Highlights of the Marine Corps CET&I request include $139.17 million for the Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR); $192.69 million for command post systems; $86.24 million for the RQ-21 Blackjack small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); and $98.51 million for the Next-Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN).
The Air Force CET&I request includes $204.87 million for the Air Force Physical Security System; $160.82 million for the Air Force Network (AFNET); $115.2 million for combat training ranges; $185.54 million for base communications infrastructure; and $123.2 million for tactical communications and electronics equipment.
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John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
