The U.S. Army may kill or delay half of the 27-ton vehicles planned for its flagship Future Combat Systems, hoping to cut costs and stave off more drastic measures by senior Pentagon officials or lawmakers, service sources said.
Led by Boeing and SAIC, the $160 billion effort is seen as a likely target for trimming in the wake of hints by the White House and Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) that the shaky economy will require cuts to major weapon programs.
"We are emphasizing fiscal responsibility," a senior Army source said.
One industry analyst said the eight vehicles "will be prioritized" by Army officials, with up to half potentially killed or delayed and others sped up.
Sources said four vehicles are likely safe from the axe: BAE Systems' Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon and Infantry Carrier Vehicle, and General Dynamics' Reconnaissance and Surveillance Vehicle, and Command and Control Vehicle.
Vehicles seen to be at risk include BAE's Non-line-of-Sight Mortar, Medical Vehicle, and Recovery and Maintenance Vehicle; and General Dynamics' Mounted Combat System.
James McAleese, the principal of the McAleese and Associates defense consulting firm, said the Army might buy more currently available combat vehicles instead.
And instead of a force of 15 combat brigades within an Army that would include legacy brigades, some of the systems will be spread to the entire Army under changes already made in the plan.
I can't imagine the Army really values the Mounted Combat System, which is to replace the Abrams main battle tank, so low. We seem to be making some progress on elements of the vehicle, at least. I have to believe this is a ploy to rank a wanted system low so Congress will fund it anyway.
Or maybe critics of trying to build a light tank that replaces our Abrams are coming around to my way of thinking that we can't build a wonder tank. Iraq combat experienced proved the value of heavy armor (of course, I thought the Persian Gulf War showed that, but some may need more proof than I did), and maybe we'll be building modernized Abrams or a new heavy tank for the future force.
