Washington, January 27: The Pentagon has announced plans to cut military spending by 487 billion dollars over the next decade as part of efforts to shore up US ailing economy.
Speaking at a news conference at the Pentagon on Thursday, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the budget cuts would see the number of US Army troops drop from 565,000 to 490,000 within five years, a decrease of almost 13 percent.
The Marine Corps would also be cut by more than 10 percent, from 202,000 to 182,000.
Panetta was quick to note that both services would still be larger than they were on September 11, 2001.
The Pentagon cheif said the US Navy’s fleet would shrink to about 250 ships from 285 and the Air Force would lose six of its 60 tactical air squadrons — meaning about 120 planes — along with one training squadron.
The proposal also calls for withdrawing two of four US brigades from Europe — a total of more than 7,000 troops.
Panetta said the administration will ask Congress for 525 billion dollars to run the Pentagon in 2013 — 6 billion dollars less than the current budget.
It is the first time since more than a decade ago that the Pentagon has asked for less funds than the previous year.
The Pentagon chief, however, proposed investment in new projects — including a futuristic floating base for special operations and drones.
According to Panetta, the US military is aiming to shift its focus from large-scale conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan to crucial areas of national interest, including a greater presence in Asia.
Panetta called for funding to station littoral combat ships in Singapore and patrol craft in Bahrain.
The US Congress requires that the Pentagon cut 487 billion dollars from the defense budget over the next 10 years — 259 billion dollars will be cut in the first five years (2013 to 2018).
However, lawmakers were quick to react to the proposed Army and Marine Corps reductions.
“These cuts reflect President [Barack] Obama’s vision of an America that is weakened, not strengthened, by our men and women in uniform,” said Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
——-Agencies