12:40 GMT, June 2, 2009 WASHINGTON | More money will find its way into accounts funding U.S. unmanned systems programs. The Pentagon wants to spend some $5.4 billion in FY2010 on unmanned air, ground, and undersea vehicles. U.S. spending on unmanned systems has steadily increased since 2001.
This new request is an 18.4 percent increase over that spent in FY2009. The U.S. spent $4.53 billion on unmanned systems in that year and $3.9 billion in FY2008. Pentagon spending on unmanned systems has increased 37.5 percent over the past two years.
The FY2010 spending figure consists of $3.55 billion for procurement (an increase of 16.16 percent over 2009), and $1.82 billion for research and development (an increase of 23 percent from 2009).
The U.S. Air Force will spend $2.13 billion: $1.68 billion on procurement, and $451.2 million for research and development. Procurement will include: five RQ-4 Global Hawk UAVs – $608.46 million; and 24 MQ-9 Reaper UAVs – $489.47 million.
U.S. Army spending will be $2.13 billion: $1.67 billion for procurement, and $453.3 million for research and development. Procurement will include: 36 Predator UAVs – $651.36 million; 704 Raven UAVs – $79.65 million. Another $609.4 million is for modifications of the RQ-7 Shadow tactical UAV system.
In addition, $125.6 million is requested for unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). The Army’s Future Combat Systems (FCS) program is developing the small unmanned ground vehicle based on the iRobot UGV. Lockheed Martin is working on the multifunction utility logistics equipment (MULE) UGV.
The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps will spend $1.05 billion: $189.8 million on procurement, and $861.5 million for research and development. Procurement will include: 11 RQ-7 Shadow UAV systems – $56.8 million; 517 Raven UAVs – $55.4 million. Both systems are the Marines. The Navy will acquire five MQ-8 Fire Scout UAVs for $77.6 million.
Other unmanned systems funding amounts to $104.56 million: $49.27 million for procurement, and $55.29 million for research and development. The U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) will receive $49.15 million: $12.28 million to support Predator UAV operations; $12.67 million to support Reaper UAV operations; and $24.2 million to support the Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (STUAS) program.
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June 2, 2009 at 4:49 pm