INTRODUCTION
The Army and Marine Corps constitute the nation's land forces. These forces provide unique and complementary capabilities for carrying out military missions. The Army provides forces for sustained combat operations on land, as well as for power projection and forcible-entry operations. The Marine Corps, as part of the nation's maritime forces, provides expeditionary forces to project combat power ashore either in support of naval campaigns or in conjunction with Army and Air Force units. These diverse capabilities give military commanders a range of options for conducting ground operations. Operationally, land forces are assigned to a joint force commander, who employs them in close coordination with aviation and naval forces.
The Army maintains heavy and light forces, based both in the United States and overseas. Light forces -- airborne, air assault, and light infantry units -- are tailored for forcible-entry operations and for operations on restricted terrain, such as mountains, jungles, and urban areas. Heavy forces -- armored and mechanized units -- are trained and equipped for mobile warfare and for operations against armies employing modern tanks and armored fighting vehicles. Light and heavy forces can operate independently or as part of a unified force, as was done in the Gulf War. Depending on the geographic location of both the forces and the crisis, Army forces stationed overseas provide either an initial or an additional source of combat power for regional deployments. For major conflicts, the Army can dispatch a U.S.-based contingency force of up to seven divisions plus support elements to any region of the world.
The Marine Corps maintains forces designed for seabased, self-sustained power projection and forcible entry ashore. Marine units are employed as part of Marine Air-Ground Task Forces (MAGTFs) consisting of four elements: ground combat, air combat, command, and service support. (The fixed-wing aviation component is discussed in the Aviation Forces chapter of this report.) Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs), consisting of about 2,000 Marines, are forward deployed continuously in or near regions of vital U.S. interest; for example, in the past year MEUs have been embarked on amphibious ships patrolling in the western Pacific, near the Persian Gulf, and in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. These forces provide a swift and effective means of responding to fast-breaking crises and can remain on station for indefinite periods of time, ready to intervene or take action if needed.
THREATS
During the Cold War, the United States knew with some confidence the location, size, and type of forces it could face in combat. Today, while the prospect of global war has diminished, the world remains a dangerous place and the contingencies for which DoD must plan pose threats that are in many ways more diverse and unpredictable. To hedge against these unknowns, the United States must consider in its planning the range of operations that might be conducted, as well as the weaponry that potential adversaries might employ.
Operations
Threat Weapon Systems
In general, land force threats encountered in MRCs would be standing armies of foreign powers, armed with mixes of old and modern weapon systems. Many nations, including members of NATO and the former Warsaw Pact alliance, are selling weapons on the international market. Thus, U.S. forces must be prepared to encounter a wide variety of systems in combat, including possibly some originally produced in the United States.
As illustrations, older tank systems that U.S. land forces might face include Soviet T-55s and T-62s, as well as early-generation T-72s; newer systems include later-generation Soviet T-72s with reactive armor and T-80(U)s with integral reactive armor. Older attack helicopters that potential adversaries might employ include Soviet MI-8/17 HIPs and German BO-105s; newer systems include Soviet MI-24/25 Hinds and MI-50 Hokums, and upgraded French SA-342 Gazelles.
New weapon technologies will add more advanced capabilities to threat forces. Examples include tank upgrades (e.g., day and night optics, active defense systems that redirect or destroy incoming projectiles), advanced antitank guided missiles capable of top attacks against tank turrets, increasingly accurate tactical ballistic missiles, and advanced artillery munitions.
Irregular forces will continue to be unable to match the combat power of heavy U.S. weaponry. However, these forces can still pose difficult challenges to U.S. forces. The proliferation of modern light arms, a fighting style that could necessitate operations in dense urban environments, and the ability of indigenous forces to submerge themselves within civil populations could negate some of the advantages of U.S. heavy weaponry.
FORCE STRUCTURE AND CAPABILITIES
Major Regional Conflicts
Major regional conflicts pose a heavy demand on U.S. forces and thus drive most force requirements. Land forces would play critical roles in all phases of an MRC. Described below is the Department's planning framework for MRCs. The Department recognizes, however, that the course of actual conflicts may be very unpredictable and therefore maintains the flexibility needed to cope with this uncertainty.
The requirements of these major combat operations drive the overall size and structure of Army and Marine forces. To handle a single MRC, the Bottom-Up Review (BUR) concluded that the United States needs a force of four to five Army divisions, four to five Marine brigade-equivalents, and enhanced readiness brigades from the Army National Guard (ARNG). In order to prevail in two nearly simultaneous MRCs, based on the BUR analysis the Department has programmed the following forces:
Additional details on the land force structure are provided later in this section and are summarized in Table IV-1.
Military Operations Other Than War
Although the primary purpose of U.S. land forces is to contribute to winning the nation's wars, they are also prepared to conduct a range of operations short of war. These missions, which are becoming more common in the post-Cold War era, include peace enforcement and peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, evacuations of U.S. citizens from crisis regions, counterdrug operations, and assistance to law enforcement agencies during civil disturbances. Although considered nontraditional, these operations, in fact, have a long heritage in U.S. military history and contribute directly to the security of the United States and its allies. For example, U.S. land forces are playing a key role in the Bosnian peacekeeping operation undertaken by NATO in December 1995. U.S. land forces also continue to be deployed in Haiti, where they are helping to ensure the restoration of democracy; they also are supporting peace enforcement and peacekeeping operations in locales such as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The forces required for operations other than war normally are subsumed within those needed for MRCs. However, some tailoring of normal force groupings plus special training often are needed.
Force Structure
The FY 1996 budget continues the transition to a force structure supporting the two-MRC strategy defined in the Bottom-Up Review.
ARMY
In 1997, the Army will consist of four corps and 18 active and reserve divisions, down from five corps and 28 divisions at the end of the Cold War. The active force will continue to be reduced, declining from 18 divisions and an end-strength of 732,000 in FY 1990 to 10 divisions and an end-strength of 475,000 to 495,000 in FY 1999. (The FY 1999 objective will be established later this year, following completion of internal analyses and evaluations.) The 10 active divisions will include one airborne, one air assault, two light infantry, and six heavy (armored and mechanized) divisions. As FY 1996 began, active-duty strength numbered 510,000.
Army reserve components -- the Army National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve -- will continue to perform critical warfighting functions that they have fulfilled in the past. The 15 enhanced readiness brigades of the ARNG are fully incorporated into planning for two MRCs. Further, more than 60 percent of the combat support and combat service support required by active Army forces will come from the reserve components. Other ARNG forces, such as the eight National Guard divisions, will be maintained at readiness levels that allow them to mobilize in the event of an extended crisis or protracted operation. These forces also provide a deterrent hedge against the long-term resurgence of a global threat. All reserve forces, but particularly those from the ARNG, will play dominant roles in disaster relief operations in the United States. Consistent with the change in strategic requirements, total end-strength in the Army reserve components will decline from 736,000 in FY 1990 to 575,000 by FY 1998. At the beginning of FY 1996, Army reserve component end-strength stood at 630,000.
MARINE CORPS
The Marine Corps will maintain three active divisions, three active aircraft wings, and three active force service support groups (FSSGs), all task organized into three Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEFs). The MEF in the western Pacific will be somewhat smaller than in the past, however. Active Marine Corps end-strength has declined from 194,040 in FY 1991 to 174,000 today. The Marine Corps Reserve will maintain a division-wing-FSSG team to augment and reinforce the active force. Marine Corps Reserve end-strength today stands at 42,000, down from 44,900 in FY 1991.
By FY 1999, the drawdown in Army and Marine Corps force structure to levels consistent with the BUR will be complete. Table IV-1 summarizes the planned FY 1999 force structure for the Army and Marine Corps.
| Table IV-1 | |
| Army and Marine Corps Force Structure and End-Strength | |
|---|---|
| Objective (FY 1999) | |
| Army | |
| Active Component | |
| Divisions | 10 |
| Separate brigades and armored cavalry regiments | 3 |
| End-strength [a] | 475,000-495,000 |
| Army National Guard | |
| Divisions | 8 |
| Separate brigades and armored cavalry regiments | 18 [b] |
| End-strength [a] | 367,000 |
| Army Reserve End-strength [a] | 208,000 |
| Marine Corps | |
| Active Component | |
| Divisions | 3 |
| Wings | 3 |
| Force Service Support Groups | 3 |
| End-strength [a] | 174,000 |
| Reserve Component | |
| Division | 1 |
| Wing | 1 |
| Force Service Support Group | 1 |
| End-strength [a] | 42,000 |
| [a] End-strength figures include all functional areas of combat, combat support, and combat service support. [b] Fifteen will be enhanced brigades. | |
Stationing
The following chart shows the location of major Army and Marine Corps units as of January 1996.
The peacetime presence of U.S. forces overseas demonstrates the nation's commitment to the security of friends and allies and enhances U.S. crisis-response capabilities.
EUROPE AND ATLANTIC REGION
The United States is committed to fulfilling a significant role in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A corps headquarters and substantial elements of two Army divisions, including support elements, will be retained in Europe. These forces will provide an aggregate troop strength of 65,000. Two brigade sets of Army equipment will remain prepositioned in central Europe; one brigade set will remain in southern Europe. This materiel will allow in-place divisions to grow to full strength and an additional Army division to be deployed to the theater in the event of a conflict.
Despite the overall reduction of forces in Europe, the units remaining in the theater are very active. The U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division, drawn from U.S. NATO forces in Germany, is providing the bulk of U.S. ground forces for the NATO peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Further, the U.S. European Command is deeply involved in forging links with the states of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union through the Partnership for Peace and other programs.
Marine forces also maintain an active presence in Europe. A Marine Expeditionary Unit is continually deployed in the Mediterranean Sea; a Marine brigade-equivalent set of equipment has been prepositioned ashore in Norway; and another brigade-equivalent set has been placed aboard maritime prepositioning ships (MPS) stationed in the Mediterranean Sea. It was a forward-deployed MEU, operating as part of a joint task force, that rescued Air Force Captain Scott O'Grady last year when his aircraft was shot down over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
NORTHEAST ASIA AND PACIFIC REGION
The Army Second Infantry Division -- with two brigades plus other Eighth Army supporting elements and a total troop strength of over 27,000 -- will be maintained in South Korea to deter aggression from the north. The Army 25th Infantry Division (Light), stationed in Hawaii, is also oriented to the Pacific region, as is an Army special forces battalion maintained on Okinawa. In addition, prepositioned equipment is maintained ashore in Korea for one Army brigade. The Third Marine Division (one regiment of which is stationed in Hawaii) will remain on Okinawa, and one MPS squadron with a Marine brigade-set of equipment will continue to be stationed in the vicinity of Guam.
SOUTHWEST ASIA
Two brigade sets of Army equipment will be stored ashore in the region. One of these sets will be maintained in Kuwait for use by U.S. forces that will deploy to the region on a rotational basis to train and exercise with Kuwaiti forces. The second set will be located in Qatar. In addition, one brigade set of Army equipment will be prepositioned afloat, for use in either Southwest Asia or elsewhere as needed. One MPS squadron with a Marine brigade-set of equipment will be maintained in the region.
READINESS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Maintaining ready, capable forces is the top priority of the defense program. The compensation and quality of life initiatives discussed in earlier sections of this report are key to attracting and retaining the high-quality personnel on whom readiness depends. Education and training are major contributors to readiness and will continue to receive close attention. DoD has been very responsive to the needs of the combatant commanders in providing trained and educated forces, and it has put a robust process in place to improve its position in the years ahead.
The Army and Marine Corps provide a wide range of training opportunities for their forces. These include joint and single-service exercise programs in the United States and large multinational exercises conducted regularly abroad. The use of battle simulators at home bases and combat training centers (CTCs) allows Army and Marine forces to hone critical skills in advance of field exercises and operational deployments. The relative emphasis on simulators for basic and collective training continues to increase as computer hardware and software technology improve.
Army Training
The National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, California, the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and the Combat Maneuver Training Center (CMTC) at Hohenfels, Germany, use instrumented field exercises to improve the readiness of battalion- and brigade-sized units. The Army's goal is to train 12 brigades at the NTC each year and 10 brigades at the JRTC, while providing annual training opportunities at the CMTC for all of its European-based infantry and armor battalions.
The Battle Command Training Program (BCTP) gives division and corps headquarters staffs specialized training in wartime command functions. This program combines seminars and battle simulations at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, with computer-assisted command post exercises at home stations. Plans call for all active component division and corps staffs to receive BCTP training once every two years; all ARNG division and brigade staffs will train once every three years.
Marine Corps Training
Marine units conduct large-scale live-fire and maneuver field exercises at the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center at 29 Palms, California. Eight active and two reserve infantry battalions, plus associated combat support and combat service support elements, train each year in MAGTF-level exercises. The Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California, prepares Marine units for both mountain and cold-weather operations. Marine Expeditionary Units (Special Operations Capable) undergo an intense, 26-week predeployment training period, during which they receive extensive training both ashore and at sea.
Joint and Multinational Training
Army and Marine forces participate in joint and multinational training exercises both in the United States and abroad. Joint exercises involve forces of more than one military department; multinational exercises involve forces of foreign nations. Both are critical in developing and honing procedures for mutual support, seamless integration, and unified command and control. Major exercises in 1995 included Unified Endeavor at Fort Hood, Texas; Roving Sands at Fort Bliss, Texas; Bright Star 95 in Egypt; Cobra Gold 95 in Thailand; Indigo Desert in Kuwait; Ulchi Focus Lens 95 in Korea; and Fuertes Caminos in South America.
Training Challenges -- Funding
Crisis-response operations continue to be a significant responsibility for land forces and bear directly on readiness. These deployments, coupled with routine overseas presence missions, place heavy strains on the already limited operation and maintenance accounts, which also fund training and sustainment programs. The Department is acutely aware of this problem and is working with Congress to find a long-term method of funding contingencies that does not harm readiness. In the short term, to ease burdens on the active force, reserve units are being used in peacekeeping roles in Haiti and the Sinai. In addition, congressional passage last year of a $2.5 billion emergency supplemental appropriation for contingencies provided much-needed relief. The land forces component of these funds was $1.1 billion; the supplemental allowed Army and Marine Corps commanders to avoid abbreviating and curtailing field exercises in order to fund contingency operations out of operation and maintenance accounts.
MODERNIZATION
Modernization programs for the Army and Marine Corps lay the technological groundwork for longer-term enhancements in combat power and preserve the combat edge that U.S. land forces now possess over potential adversaries. Retention of this edge is vital if U.S. forces are to prevail in the shortest possible time and with the fewest possible casualties.
The sections that follow present highlights of modernization programs being pursued by the Army and Marine Corps. As this report went to press, funding needed to support recapitalization initiatives of all four Services was under review. Annual production rates and funding objectives for some programs addressed in this chapter could change as a result of that assessment. Moreover, other changes could be made as a result of subsequent reprogramming requests. The figures given here reflect the status of programs at the time of the report's publication; adjusted figures, where applicable, will be included in the President's budget submission to Congress.
Army
The Army strategy for waging war is to win rapidly with minimum casualties by denying an opponent the ability to maintain a coherent operational plan or to respond decisively to changing battlefield conditions. This concept requires both superior weaponry and a superior ability to concentrate the efforts of intelligence, logistics, fire support, and maneuver forces at the decisive time and place. To this end, Army modernization programs continue to emphasize five interrelated areas where U.S. forces must maintain a combat edge: battlefield intelligence and communications; precision strike; battlefield maneuver; force protection; and force projection and sustainment. To achieve these objectives, the Army is integrating selected capabilities (e.g., night-vision devices, information digitization) into the force through system upgrades, while pursuing only those new programs of highest priority.
ABRAMS TANK UPGRADE
The M1A2 upgrade program will improve the lethality, mobility, and survivability of approximately 1,000 older Abrams M1 tanks. Enhancements include a 120mm gun, suspension improvements, a nuclear-biological-chemical protection system, and improved armor. Battlefield performance is being enhanced through the addition of a commander's independent thermal viewer, an independent commander's weapon station, position navigation equipment, and a digital data bus and radio interface unit permitting the rapid transfer of data between the Abrams and other systems on the battlefield. The M1A2 upgrade program began in FY 1993. To date, 206 upgrades have been funded. The Army currently plans to award a five-year contract beginning in FY 1996 for at 600 additional upgrades.
BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLE UPGRADE
The A3 upgrade to the Bradley fighting vehicle system will complement the capabilities provided by the M1A2. Approximately 1,602 existing Bradley A2s will be remanufactured into A3s. In addition to providing digital communications capability, enhanced situational awareness, and improved sustainability, the A3 upgrade increases the lethality of the Bradley by adding an improved fire control system and a commander's independent thermal viewer. When equipped with upgraded Bradleys, mechanized infantry units will be able to share battlefield data with M1A2-equipped armor units. Engineering and manufacturing development of the A3 upgrade will continue through FY 1999. Low-rate initial production is scheduled to begin in FY 1997.
COMANCHE HELICOPTER
The Comanche (RAH-66) is the first helicopter designed for armed reconnaissance. This aircraft will allow Army commanders to pass near real-time intelligence to soldiers throughout the battlefield. It will significantly expand the Army's ability to locate enemy forces, mass fire against them in close and deep tactical operations, and synchronize Army actions throughout the land component commander's area of operation. The Comanche will replace three aging helicopter systems -- the AH-1, OH-58, and OH-6. The AH-1, OH-58A/C, and the OH-6 fleets all average more than 25 years of age and lack the capabilities needed on the 21st century battlefield. The younger OH-58D is not capable of handling modern payloads. The Comanche will continue in research and development during the program years. Current plans call for procurement to begin in FY 2006, with a total of 1,292 helicopters slated for production through FY 2027.
APACHE LONGBOW AND LONGBOW HELLFIRE MISSILE
This modification to the Apache system will provide ground commanders with a long-range helicopter capable of delivering massed, rapid fire in day or night and in adverse weather. Longbow's digitized target acquisition system can automatically detect and classify targets. The target acquisition system uses a millimeterwave radar to direct a fire-and-forget version of the Hellfire II missile. Initial operational tests and evaluation of the Longbow system were conducted early in 1995, and the system was approved for production in October 1995. Current plans call for 758 Apache helicopters to be converted to the Longbow configuration through FY 2008.
ARMY TACTICAL MISSILE SYSTEM (ATACMS)
ATACMS is a surface-to-surface guided missile capable of striking targets beyond the range of existing Army cannons and rockets. This advanced weapon is fired from the M270, which also is the delivery vehicle for the Multiple-Launch Rocket System (MLRS). ATACMS Block I missiles, with antipersonnel/antimateriel (APAM) bomblets, were fielded beginning in FY 1990. An improved version of the weapon, designated ATACMS Block IA, with greater range and accuracy, will enter service in FY 1998; a total of 800 of these missiles are programmed for production. Two follow-on versions of ATACMS are scheduled for fielding after the turn of the century. ATACMS Block II missiles, carrying the Brilliant Antiarmor Technology submunition (discussed below), will enter service in FY 2001; an inventory objective of 1,206 missiles has been established for this variant. In FY 2003, the extended-range ATACMS Block IIA will be fielded; a total of 600 of these missiles are planned for procurement.
BRILLIANT ANTIARMOR TECHNOLOGY (BAT) AND SENSE AND DESTROY ARMOR (SADARM)
BAT and SADARM are fire-and-forget submunitions designed to destroy tanks and other armored targets. BAT submunitions will be carried deep into enemy territory by ATACMS. Once released, BAT will use infrared and acoustic sensors to autonomously locate and automatically attack moving armored vehicles. BAT will begin contractor developmental testing in FY 1996 and start low-rate initial production in FY 1998.
SADARM will be delivered to its target by 155mm artillery projectiles. The submunition is designed to destroy lightly-armored vehicles, primarily self-propelled artillery. Once dispensed from its carrier, SADARM will locate its target using dual-mode millimeter-wave and infrared sensors. SADARM began low-rate initial production in FY 1995 and is scheduled for initial operational testing in FY 1998. A decision on full-rate production will be made in FY 1999. Current plans call for procurement of 73,532 projectiles (with two SADARM submunitions per projectile) through FY 2012. A fully funded product improvement program for SADARM will increase the submunition's footprint and lethality through improved electronics; the product-improved version will enter production in FY 2002.
JAVELIN
This new man-portable missile system will improve the antiarmor capability of dismounted Army and Marine forces. It is slated to replace the Dragon antitank system in infantry, scout, and combat engineer units. The Javelin can destroy both conventional and reactive armor targets from frontal or top attack positions. The system will improve soldier protection in two ways. First, its fire-and-forget technology will allow gunners to launch their missiles and immediately take cover. Second, the Javelin can also be safely fired from enclosed positions. Javelin is currently in low-rate initial production; a decision on full-rate production will be made in 1997.
CRUSADER
The Crusader (formerly designated the Advanced Field Artillery System and Future Armored Resupply Vehicle) is a new-generation self-propelled indirect-fire cannon and artillery resupply system. It will replace the M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer and the M992 field artillery ammunition supply vehicle used by heavy Army forces. Compared to those earlier systems, Crusader will provide a significant increase in range, accuracy, rate of fire, mobility, and survivability, restoring the Army's cannon artillery supremacy. Innovations incorporated in the system include an advanced cannon system, automated ammunition handling, and improved fire control capabilities. Crusader will be in research and development during the program years; production is scheduled to begin in FY 2003, with the first unit to be equipped in FY 2005. Current plans call for the procurement of 824 Crusader systems (824 cannons and 824 resupply vehicles) through FY 2012.
FAMILY OF MEDIUM TACTICAL VEHICLES (FMTV)
This new family of 2 1/2-ton and 5-ton trucks will be used by combat, combat support, and combat service support units to move troops, equipment, and supplies within operating theaters. The trucks will be produced in a variety of versions, all incorporating a common chassis. This will reduce production costs and save maintenance time and expenses. The new truck lines will overcome several significant aging problems. The current fleets of 2 1/2-ton and 5-ton trucks are now more than 20 years old and will average more than 30 years in age by the end of FY 2001. The reliability problems, and particularly the limited off-road capability, of these vehicles were documented in the Gulf War. FMTV will have much greater off-road mobility and will be much easier to maintain than the systems it will replace. Current plans call for delivery of 53,600 FMTVs through FY 2015.
DIGITIZATION
This group of programs -- including but not limited to the Army Digitization program, Army Global Command and Control System, and Army Tactical Command and Control System -- will modernize Army command and control systems. The primary goal of this major research and development initiative is to provide digital communications links between commanders and their forces, and among individual force elements, enabling information to be passed around the battlefield in near real time. The program's broader goal is to improve situational awareness and decision support for commanders in the field. As part of this initiative, communications systems are being upgraded to carry the immense amounts of digital information that will have to be processed, and to give them the computer hardware and software to do that. The various systems included in this initiative will be field tested through the year 1999; a decision on full procurement will be made in FY 2000.
Marine Corps
Marine Corps modernization requirements derive from the operational maneuver from the sea concept, which provides for amphibious assaults to be launched further offshore, with greater survivability, flexibility, speed, surprise, and combat power. Initiatives that improve amphibious and aerial assault capability, land mobility, mine countermeasures, and fire support capabilities are essential to this concept.
V-22 OSPREY
This tilt-rotor aircraft will replace the Marine Corps' aging fleet of CH-46E and CH-53A/D helicopters. The V-22's combination of range, speed, and payload will enable Marine units to move assault forces and supplies faster from ship to shore and deeper within the area of operations. This improvement in mobility will also enhance the survivability of ships carrying the aircraft. Amphibious vessels will be able to remain further offshore, decreasing their vulnerability to shore-based missiles, underwater mines, and detection by ground surveillance systems. The V-22 program is currently in engineering and manufacturing development, with low-rate production scheduled to begin in FY 1997. A decision on full-rate production will be made in FY 2001. Current plans call for the procurement of 523 aircraft through FY 2021, including 50 aircraft modified for special operations. Initial operational capability is anticipated in FY 2001.
UTILITY AND ATTACK HELICOPTER UPGRADES/ REPLACEMENTS
The Marine Corps is examining alternatives for upgrading or replacing its aging fleet of utility and attack helicopters. Alternatives include the addition of improved four-blade lift capabilities to both helicopter fleets, the incorporation of an improved targeting system and an integrated weapons station on the AH-1W, and various replacement options. The program will undergo an acquisition milestone review in late FY 1996, at which time a decision on proceeding into demonstration/validation will be made.
ADVANCED AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT VEHICLE (AAAV)
This new amphibious assault vehicle will allow Marine forces to launch assaults from points over the horizon, move rapidly to the beach, and continue the attack inland in a seamless operation. It will also provide armor-protected transport and direct fire support to Marine infantry forces ashore. The AAAV will replace the AAV7A1, which dates from the early 1970s and is nearing the end of its service life. The AAAV will have much greater mobility in the water than the AAV7A1, and will have the speed and cross-country mobility to operate with the M1A1 tank. Currently, two contractors are working to define AAAV concepts. Development will proceed under a demonstration and validation contract to be competitively awarded in early 1996. A low-rate initial production contract is scheduled to be awarded in FY 2004; 1,013 vehicles are planned for procurement through FY 2013.
LIGHTWEIGHT 155 HOWITZER (LW155)
This new towed cannon system will replace the M198 155mm howitzer used by Army and Marine forces. Substantially lighter than the M198, the LW155 will significantly enhance ship-to-shore mobility, while increasing the survivability and responsiveness of artillery support for ground operations. The requirements for this joint program were defined in the first half of 1995, at which time concept definition activities were initiated. Upon completion of a shoot-off among competing systems during 1996, the program will enter the engineering and manufacturing development phase. An acquisition objective of 598 LW155s has been established. Low-rate production is scheduled to begin in FY 2000, with full operational capability slated for FY 2006.
PREDATOR SHORT-RANGE ASSAULT WEAPON
This short-range antiarmor assault weapon will improve Marine light antitank capability in the field. A shoulder-mounted, 20-pound fire-and-forget system, the Predator will improve upon the range and lethality of the AT4, which it is slated to replace. The current acquisition target is 21,012 systems. Operational requirements were established in 1994, and the program is currently in engineering and manufacturing development. Procurement is scheduled to start in FY 1999, with full operational capability planned for FY 2001.
| Table IV-2 | ||||
| Key Army and Marine Corps Modernization Programs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Dollars (Millions) | ||||
| FY 1995 Actual | FY 1996 Actual | FY 1997 Budgeted | FY 1998 Planned | |
| Army RDT&E | ||||
| Abrams Upgrade | 11.7 | 38.8 | 71.5 | 33.3 |
| Bradley Upgrade | 75.1 | 117.9 | 89.2 | 66.3 |
| Comanche | 474.9 | 292.2 | 288.6 | 288.8 |
| Apache Longbow | 169.6 | 23.0 | 5.9 | -- |
| ATACMS/APAM | 36.3 | 26.4 | 4.9 | -- |
| ATACMS/BAT | 115.1 | 195.7 | 180.4 | 177.7 |
| SADARM | 40.5 | 16.2 | 10.1 | 22.6 |
| Javelin | 29.6 | 1.0 | -- | -- |
| Crusader | 172.4 | 201.6 | 267.9 | 337.6 |
| FMTV | 4.3 | -- | -- | -- |
| Digitization | 82.7 | 99.1 | 87.4 | 27.8 |
| Army Procurement | ||||
| Abrams Upgrade | 308.7 | 496.7 | 539.8 | 650.6 |
| Bradley Upgrade | -- | -- | 210.2 | 221.4 |
| Apache Longbow | 117.0 | 417.7 | 379.5 | 439.0 |
| ATACMS/APAM | 112.8 | 121.3 | 92.8 | 98.1 |
| ATACMS/BAT | -- | -- | -- | 120.9 |
| SADARM | 29.8 | 41.1 | 60.3 | 69.5 |
| Javelin | 212.6 | 200.9 | 162.1 | 152.3 |
| FMTV | 371.2 | 150.8 | 240.0 | 135.3 |
| Digitization | -- | -- | -- | 75.6 |
| Navy RDT&E [a] | ||||
| V-22 | 452.7 | 736.8 | 576.8 | 522.7 |
| Helicopter Upgrades/ Replacements | 89.0 | 87.0 | 113.1 | 145.3 |
| Navy Procurement [b] | ||||
| V-22 | -- | 46.6 | 602.3 | 522.7 |
| Marine Corps RDT&E | ||||
| AAAV | 23.6 | 32.4 | 41.3 | 62.4 |
| LW155 | 6.4 | 10.9 | 11.5 | 31.3 |
| Short-Range Assault Weapon | 17.3 | 31.5 | 33.3 | 0.5 |
| NOTES: [a] Navy funds applied to Marine Corps RDT&E. [b] Navy funds applied to Marine Corps procurement. | ||||
MEDIUM TACTICAL VEHICLE REMANUFACTURE (MTVR)
Under this program, the Marine Corps is remanufacturing 5-ton trucks used by combat, combat support, and combat service support units to move troops, equipment, and sustainment supplies. The current fleet will begin to reach the end of its service life in FY 1999; its limited mobility and load-carrying capacity were demonstrated during the Gulf War. In upgrading the fleet, the remanufacturing program will emphasize modern, nondevelopmental off-road truck technologies. Planned enhancements include the installation of an improved engine, independent suspension, and central tire inflation system. Plans call for a total of 8,080 vehicles to be remanufactured through FY 2004.
Additional modernization programs for the Marine Corps are discussed in the Maritime Forces section of this report.
CONCLUSION
Both the Army and Marine Corps will take additional steps in FY 1997 to streamline and adapt their forces to post-Cold War requirements. The FY 1997-2001 program will preserve combat readiness, while making the selective enhancements needed to keep Army and Marine equipment and munitions inventories capable and modern. The force structure and modernization initiatives outlined in this chapter represent a balanced approach to meeting future needs.
