Executive Summary

The U.S. Army’s 2016 fiscal budget request was issued on Monday February 2, 2015 with the focus on the future needs of the Army in mind. Specifically, these needs include aviation modernization and science and technology programs. Major General Thomas Holder, the director of the Army budget, has expressed his concerns about what a lack of funding in modernization could do for the Army’s ability to respond to threats in the future in order to grow support for the budget request. The 2016 request totals to $147 billion and 18 percent of which is being dedicated to procurement of additional existing assets along with research and development of new equipment.
The following are some of the highlights of the proposed plans and purchases that will go into effect if the Army’s budget request is met in order to meet expectations of readiness and future modernization:
The Army will purchase 94 Black Hawk helicopters and their respective mission equipment packages while also sending some of them to the National Guard in exchange for the Guards AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.
12 CH-47F Chinook transport helicopters will be purchased specifically for their improved avionics which makes them safer over previous models.
The request will pay for unmanned aircraft systems which include 17 MQ-1 Gray Eagle aircraft, 4 Shadow V2 retrofit kits and launchers, 10 One system Remote Video Terminal Systems. A $33 million facility is being added for the MQ-1 Gray Eagles as well.