Editor's Perspective

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In the last issue I took a look at USSOCOM’s FY10 procurement presidential budget proposal and promised that I would do the same for the procurement side of things, so here we are.

At first blush the news isn’t the best. At $405.4 million (including the incremental war request), the funding is down $82.5 million from FY09. Programs seeing some of the more significant losses in proposed funding include: Special Operations Advanced Technology Development (-$34 million); Special Operations CV-22 Development (-$27.4 million); Special Operations Intelligence Systems Development (-$18.3 million); Special Operations Tactical Systems Development (-$14.2 million); Special Applications for Contingencies (-$9.8 million); and SOF Global Video Surveillance (-$9.7 million).

Unmanned Vehicles as a separate program element has been eliminated in FY10 and replaced with two separate platform-specific program elements (MQ-1 and MQ-9). While some funding may be spread within other PEs, the recognizable drop from FY09 to FY10 is about $34 million unmanned platform spending.

There are some programs where gains are expected, including: the Joint Multi-Mission Submersible (+$43.2 million), an FY10 new start program element; Special Operations Aviation Systems Advanced Development (+$38.8 million); SOF Rotary Wing Aviation (+$15.6 million).

Admiral Eric T. Olson could not have made the point clearer on his need for additional aviation-borne precision strike capabilities. His comments can be found in the Whispers department of this issue (page 4). Funding for this looks like it is found in the Special Operations Aviation Systems Advanced Development program element under the Precision Strike Package MC-130 Multi- Mission Modification project due to receive $27.3 million in FY10. This program fulfills an urgent combat requirement and will provide an armed over-watch capability including sensors, communication systems, precision guided munitions, and a single medium-caliber gun. An interim kit is being fielded and funded under a combat mission needs statement in FY09.

As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.

Best wishes.

Jeffrey D. McKaughan
Editor-In-Chief
301.670.5700 x130
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