Budget includes increases for Defense technologies

President Bush on Monday asked Congress to modernize the armed services over the next five years by increasing the Pentagon's budget in fiscal 2006 for advanced technologies.

The Pentagon would like to develop and field new military capabilities to help shift the military from separate forces -- the Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy -- to interconnected brigades.

"This budget represents the latest installment in the president's strong commitment to transforming this department to face the challenges of the 21st century," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said. The president called for $419.3 billion for the Pentagon in fiscal 2006 -- a 4.8 percent increase, or $19 billion, over fiscal 2005.

The Bush administration's budget said the president supports "substantial investments in advanced technology, particularly in remote sensing and high-performance computing, to give our military additional advantages over our enemies."

Under Bush's proposal, research and development of new defense technologies would increase by $600 million to $69.4 billion next year and would increase steadily through fiscal 2009. The funding would drop in fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2011 -- leveling off at $59.7 billion. Overall, military procurement would drop $100 million in fiscal 2006 to $78 billion, but it would increase significantly to $118.6 billion from fiscal 2007 through fiscal 2011.

Bush requested $3.1 billion for R&D at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). DARPA would spend $163 million on classified projects. The president also requested $310 million for R&D activities at the Defense Information Systems Agency.

For specific R&D activities, the administration requested: $242 million for electronic devices; $201 million for cognitive computing systems; $199 million for information and communications technology; $190 million for advanced supercomputing programs; $189 million for sensor technology; $137 million for technologies that would integrate the armed services; and $55 million to devise counter-terrorism measures.

Key to joint military capabilities are intelligence and communication systems, according to the Pentagon. The administration requested $1.2 billion for an advanced, high-frequency satellite system. The first launch is scheduled for fiscal 2008.

Bush also requested $836 million to continue developing a satellite based on laser communications and enhanced radio-frequency, which would "free users from current restrictions on bandwidth," the department said in a statement. The first launch will be in 2013.

Other programs include space-based radar, space-based infrared systems, a joint tactical-radio system and shared sensor aircraft.

For unmanned vehicles, the administration requested $1.7 billion to develop and purchase different types, including $350 million for unmanned aerial vehicles such as the Global Hawk and Predator.

To modernize the Army, Bush proposed $3.4 billion for the Future Combat Systems program, which will develop advanced, networked air and ground systems.

Bush also requested $9.5 billion for the Pentagon's homeland defense activities, such as protecting the country against weapons of mass destruction, and protecting key assets and critical infrastructure.