Army Plans To Shift $31 Billion To Priority Programs 

The U.S. Army is shifting $31.5 billion from lower priority projects to its priority modernization and readiness programs, reports Breaking Defense. 

Over the next five years, the service plans to spend $31.5 billion on its six primary focus areas and other programs, up from initial estimates of around of $25 billion, Army Undersecretary Ryan McCarthy said on Tuesday.

Service leaders have reviewed every program in the budget and identified about $8 billion in cost avoidance and $22 billion in cuts or terminations, McCarthy said, as cited by Military.com.

Not all of the programs that would get a boost come from the six priorities identified by Army Futures Command, said McCarthy. But all six of those programs would receive a substantial increase in funding. 

Soldiers could expect to see additional integrated missile defense systems and multiple launch rocket system batteries, as well as units manned to 105 percent of on-paper strength, he said. 

The funding would come from cuts and cancellations to at least 186 programs, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said last month.

Congress must still approve the proposed changes, The Army plans to release its draft final 2020 budget on March 12. 

Futures Command has designated six programs as key priorities: long-range precision fires; next-generation combat vehicles; future vertical lift; mobile and expeditionary network; air and missile defense; and soldier lethality.