European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 30, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page b the stars and stripes thursday january 30,1992 state of the Union la aircraft sub programs come under Pentagon a by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington a the Pentagon unveiled a $273 billion budget for fiscal 1993 that radically alters the nations strategic nuclear posture and cuts or Scales Back some of the most controversial destabilizing and modern weapons in the . Arsenal. The emergence of democracy in the former soviet Union Means the United states a can now afford to be More deliberate in the Pace at which we modernize our armed forces a Secretary of defense Dick Cheney said in a statement. The fiscal 1993 budget totals about $10 billion less than the one for the current fiscal year and $6 billion less than the original fiscal 1993 budget request submitted to Congress by the Pentagon one year ago. Overall the plan would Cut $50 billion Over the next five years. But that still May not be enough for lawmakers looking for even greater cuts in defense spending a As much As $210 billion Over the next few years. Programs such As the b-2 bomber the Navy a sea Wolf submarine and the army a Rh-66 Comanche Light helicopter would All take major hits or be scrapped under the plan which was to be detailed by Cheney at a Pentagon briefing wednesday. But further cuts in military personnel Levels Are not in the Pentagon a plans. Officials said they Are still committed to an Overall military strength level of 1.6 million in fiscal 1995. A this base Force acknowledges the changing world order Domestic fiscal constraints and the needs of the new National Security strategy a a defense department official said. Although planned cuts were delayed by the persian Gulf War the draw Down has since accelerated. Active duty strength will drop by 138,000 by sept. 30 and by 99.000 in fiscal 1993. Last years budget plan called for reductions of Only 8.000 in fiscal 1992 and 91,000 in fiscal 1993. The defense budget fleshes out some of the proposals to draw Down the . Nuclear stockpile announced by president Bush in his state of the Union address tuesday night. That announcement included four unilateral actions by the United states a capping production of the b-2 at 20 planes cancelling the midget Man intercontinental Quick poll shows most americans were convinced new York a an instant poll taken after the state of the Union address found a majority of americans confident that president Bush can improve the Economy lbs news reported tuesday. By the same margin 56 percent to 44 percent those polled said they think the tax Cut proposed by Bush will help end the recession. Lbs said an innovative phone setup allowed it to scientifically Register the opinions of 1,234 pre selected viewers within minutes after the speech. The random Sample had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage Points lbs said. A no one has Ever attempted to poll a nationally representative Sample of americans this quickly before a said Anchorman Dan rather. A two thirds majority said it did not think the Media has exaggerated How bad economic conditions Are. Just 24 percent said they Are better off than they were four years ago. Thirty two percent said they were worse off and 44 percent said they were about the same. Ballistic missile and halting production of the advanced cruise missile and the w-88 warheads for submarine launched icbms. Bush also held out a Carrot to Russia and the Commonwealth of former soviet republics by offering to further reduce strategic nuclear weapons if the Commonwealth agrees to scale Back production of some of its missiles including the modern ss-18. In return for russians eliminating All its multiple warhead land based icbms Bush would agree to destroy All 50 my peacekeeper missiles with warheads that carry a Force of 300,000 tons of int. Additionally the number of warheads for All 500 minuteman Iii missiles would be reduced from three to one the submarine warhead stockpile would be Cut by about one third and Many strategic bombers would be shifted to a conventional role. The initiatives could result in the number of . Strategic nuclear warheads dropping 40 percent below the limits set by the strategic arms limitation treaty. Bush a announcements come in the Wake of other initiatives he has unveiled in recent months including a plan to eliminate All . Ground launched tactical nuclear weapons to take such warheads off Navy ships and submarines and to a stand Down the nations strategic bomber Fleet from Alert status. In terms of the unilateral actions announced by Bush none involves a More controversial system than the b-2. Originally conceived to penetrate soviet airspace to deliver nuclear bombs and missiles its rationale came under increasing attack in Congress As the soviet threat dissipated. With 15 planes already scheduled to be built administration officials Are telling Congress that in return for building five More a enough for two squadrons a they Are willing to forgo further procurement. Other weapons systems to feel the budget a a the sea Wolf. Pentagon officials attribute the cancellation of this system solely to the collapse of the soviet Union. The Lone sea Wolf put to sea will remain on duty. The defense department will embark on the design of a lower Cost submarine modernization Effort. Savings will total $17.5 billion through fiscal 1997. A the Comanche. The army had planned on obtaining 120 of the helicopters per year with a total Fleet of Laos Ltd of Watt $9 test height Overall 17 feet Wing Span 172 feet Max weapon Load 50,000 pounds Max Takeoff weight 350,000 pounds Max internal fuel capacity 200,000 pounds weight empty 110,000 pounds sources Jane s All the world s aircraft a amps Sharon unday 1,292 envisioned by fiscal 1999. The cancellation will save about $3.5 billion through fiscal 1997. More cuts will come in such systems As the army a air defense anti tank system the Abrams tank modernization Effort and the advanced air to air missile for a total of $2.7 billion in savings through fiscal 1997. In terms of training the army will continue at a Pace of 800 training Miles per year from each vehicle and 14.5 tactical flying hours per month for aircrews. Steaming Days for Navy ships will remain at 50.5 Days per Quarter for deployed fleets and 29 Days per Quarter for non deployed fleets. Flying hours for air Force tactical aircrews will remain at about 21 hours per month. The budget firmly Stamps . Defense policy with the new doctrine that has been under development for some time As the cold War has ebbed and the soviet Empire has collapsed. Foremost among those elements is the concept of a Forward military presence rather than Forward deployment meaning that troop Levels in Europe and Asia will decline but remain sufficient to maintain a credible . Presence. At the same time the Pentagon is seeking to streamline the Way it develops and builds weapons. The new acquisition strategy will focus on developing prototypes and beginning production Only if there is a need for the system. Hail to the chief applauding lawmakers surround president Bush As he arrives a. Gephart do. Senate minority Leader Bob Dole a Kan. In the House chamber at the Capitol to deliver his state of the Senate majority Leader George j Mitchell behind the presi Union address. Behind the president Are key members of both Denta Maine and House minority Leader Robert h. Michel houses in Congress from left House majority Leader Richard in Back of Mitchella ill