Army might cut half of FCS vehicles

The Army may cancel or delay half of the vehicles planned for its Future Combat Systems program in an effort to avoid more drastic cuts by senior Defense Department officials or Congress, reports Defense News.

The $160 billion program, led by contractors Boeing Co. and Science Applications International Corp., is viewed as a likely target for cost-cutting measures in the wake of hints by the White House and Office of the Secretary of Defense that the shaky economy will require cuts to major weapons programs.

Among the vehicles at risk are BAE Systems’ Non-line-of-Sight Mortar, Medical Vehicle, and Recovery and Maintenance Vehicle, and also General Dynamics’ Mounted Combat System.

Cuts to vehicle programs would be reflected in the research and development lines of the annual FCS budget.