Aircraft, Modernization Top DoD's Unfunded List

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has handed to Congress its list of unfunded priorities for 2016 – a list that, as Defense Secretary Ash Carter made clear in his March 27 cover letter to congressional leaders, should not be used to replace items already in the regular budget request that "we deemed more important, with ripple effects across the budget."

Carter cautioned that he does "not endorse any of these additional priorities unless enacted funding exceeds the amount requested in the president's budget for 2016. We have made extensive efforts to thoroughly assess, prioritize and balance force capacity, capability and readiness."

Congressional leaders annually have requested the military services to hand over a list of items that didn't make the budget cut, allowing lawmakers the chance to pick specific items to try and insert into the budget. Sometimes Congress adds money, but often trades items to offset costs.

Download: Services' lists to Congress of unfunded priorities

The Army's list, wrote Gen. Ray Odierno, chief of staff, aims to shore up modernization programs for existing systems, including AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned surveillance aerial vehicles and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 anti-ballistic missile missiles, while "modernizing and enhancing our network cyber security for critical installations in the Continental US, Europe and Korea."

The Army is also asking to buy back training hours for its ground and air forces. All together, the Army's unfunded requirements total nearly $7.58 billion.

The Navy, wrote Adm. Jon Greenert, chief of naval operations, could use additional funds to improve defenses against air-to-air warfare and anti-ship cruise missile threats; beef up strike fighter, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance and logistic aircraft capacity, and improve undersea warfare sensors and fire control systems.

Specifically, the Navy is asking for $1.15 billion for 12 new F/A-18F Super Hornet strike fighters; $1.04 billion for eight F-35C Joint Strike Fighter carrier variants; $65 million for another MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft; and $187 million for two C-40A cargo jets.

The Navy notes that the two-seat F/A-18Fs could be built with the wiring and infrastructure to be converted to EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft if necessary.

The eight major items on the Navy's list total $2.72 billion.

The Marine Corps, wrote Gen. Joseph Dunford, commandant, is seeking to improve "home station readiness, modernization, infrastructure and quality of life programs."

Highlights of the $2.12 billion Marine Corps list are six F-35B Joint Strike Fighters for $1.05 billion and two KC-130J aircraft for $180 million.

The Air Force listed requirements totaling $5.47 billion but did not break out specific items for the active duty, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard components.

"These items provide direct support to combatant commanders, reduce operational or programmatic risk, or accelerate the fielding of critical military capability," wrote Gen. Mark Welsh, chief of staff.

The National Guard Bureau and US Southern Command also submitted unfunded requirements lists. Among the items SouthCom listed were an Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB) using a leased vessel.

The Navy already is building three AFSBs, with the first to be delivered in May. SouthCom proposes carrying out a proof-of-concept demonstration for its leased "multi-function littoral support vessel" to carry out annual 90- to 180-day deployments in support of interdiction and contingency operations.

Carter, in his cover letter, noted that SouthCom was the only unified command to submit a request.