28 May 2021

Pentagon budget 2022: Army offers peek combat vehicle cuts

by Ashley Roque

When the Biden administration released its fiscal year 2022 (FY 2022) budget request on 28 May, absent were the Department of Defense’s projected spending forecast for the outyears and justification documents detailing line item decisions. However, the US Army outlined plans to cut combat vehicle spending, including for its new Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) line and planned M1 Abrams tank upgrades.

The service is requesting USD408 million next year to buy tracked combat vehicles, a USD345 million increase over this year. This figure includes USD287 million for the service’s Mobile Protected Firepower programme, a new line item, and USD16 million for the Assault Breacher Vehicle.

For the second year in a row, the AMPV procurement is aligned for a cut. Last year, the army announced that it would reduce its planned AMPV buy but said it would begin ramping it up in FY 2022 with a USD682 million request to purchase 168 vehicles. However, the service is only asking for USD105 million in AMPV procurement funding for FY 2022.

BAE Systems delivered its first AMPV to the US Army in August 2020. Despite its promise to boost AMPV procurement in FY 2022, the service has fallen short on its word. (BAE Systems)

When it comes to tracked combat vehicle modifications, the army is requesting USD3.2 billion, a slight reduction over the current funding level. This pot includes USD1 billion for its Stryker line, USD461 million for its Bradley infantry fighting vehicle line, and USD446 million to buy 25 Self-Propelled Howitzer Paladin Integrated Managements (PIMs).

When the Biden administration released its fiscal year 2022 (FY 2022) budget request on 28 May, abse...

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