The committee recommends an appropriation of $4,264,400,000. This is a reduction of $804,700,000 from the revised budget estimate and a reduction of $17,000,000 in the House allowance. The sum recommended represents a reduction of $1,407,100,000 below the appropriation for fiscal year 1969.

The committee recommends concurrence in the following House reductions:

Concurrence is also recommended in the House increase of $86,000,000 for the procurement of Cobra armed helicopters. This is in accord with the provisions of the Department of Defense Procurement and Research and Development Authorization Act, 1970 (Public Law 91-121).

The committee recommends an additional reduction of $17,000,000 based on anticipated decreases in the cost of production of the M-16 rifle.

PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

The budget programs and activities included in this appropriation are discussed below. The sums referred to are intended to reflect the magnitude of the various programs and activities and are not to be considered as specific recommendations. The general reduction referred to above has not been allocated to the various activities.

The recommended program includes $393.7 million for the budget activity entitled "Aircraft."

These funds provide for procurement, manufacture, remanufacture, and conversion of airplanes, helicopters, and associated equipment. In addition to the basic aircraft, this program provides for armament, excluding missile systems; electronics and communications equipment; and ground support equipment, including aircraft maintenance shopsets, and related production base support.

The program recommended by the committee includes funds for the following aircraft and related programs:

Chinook (CH-47C) transport helicopters.-$56.3 million is recommended for the procurement of 36 Chinook helicopters. The Chinook is a rotary-wing helicopter used for the transport of troops and cargo and for medical evacuation in the combat zone. It is capable of allweather, day or night operations. It can carry, in addition to its crew of three, 33 fully equipped combat troops or 10 tons of cargo. The Chinook has been used with success in Vietnam, where it is one of the workhorses of the Army air operations. This helicopter is produced by the Vertol Division of the Boeing Aircraft Corp., Morton, Pa., and is powered by two T-55 L-11 gas turbine engines produced by the Lycoming Division of the AVCO Corp., at Stratford, Conn.

Iroquois (UH-1H) utility transport helicopters. $49.2 million is recommended for the procurement of 160 Iroquois helicopters. The Iroquois is the Army's first turbine-powered helicopter and the first helicopter designed specifically for combat operations. It is a versatile utility helicopter capable of transporting combat troops, medical evacuees, and cargo. It is the backbone of the Army's air mobile operations in Vietnam where it is being used to carry a crew of 4 plus 7 fully equipped riflemen, cargo loads of up to 2 tons, or as an armed helicopter equipped with an array of weapons such as 7.62-millimeter machineguns, 2.75-inch rocket systems, 40-millimeter grenade launchers, or the SS-11 missile system. It is a low silhouette, high performance, single rotor helicopter powered by a single gas turbine engine. More commonly referred to as the Huey, the Iroquois is produced by Bell Helicopter Co. of Fort Worth, Tex. It is driven by a single T-53 engine

which is produced by the Lycoming Division of the Avco Corp., Stratford, Conn.

Kiowa (OH-58) light observation helicopters.-$68.4 million is recommended for the procurement of 600 Kiowa light observation helicopters. The Kiowa will transport a pilot and three passengers or 760 pounds of cargo. It is produced by Bell Helicopter Co. of Fort Worth, Tex. and uses the T-63 turbine engine manufactured by the Allison Division of General Motors Corp. It replaces the single engine observation fixed-wing aircraft and several of the earlier versions of rotary wing aircraft.

Flying Crane (CH-54A) helicopters.-$13 million is recommended for the procurement of 6 Flying Crane helicopters. The Flying Crane is a twin engine, turbine powered, heavy lift aircraft. It is designed for lifting and transporting heavy, outsize cargo over terrain difficult to traverse by other means. This helicopter has been highly successful in aircraft retrieval operations in Vietnam. Detachable pods may be attached to the crane for the purpose of transporting troops or hauling conventional cargo internally. It is operated by a crew of 4, and has a lift capability of 12.5 tons. It is produced by Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. of Bridgeport, Conn. and is powered by the JFTD-12 gas turbine engine produced by Pratt & Whitney, Hartford, Conn.

Mohawk aircraft ground avionics.-$5.3 million is recommended for the procurement of ground avionic systems for the support of the Mohawk observation aircraft now in the Army's inventory.

Cobra (AH-1G) armed helicopters.-$86 million is recommended for the procurement of 170 Cobra helicopters, an armed version of the Army's UH-1 Iroquois helicopter. The Cobra helicopter was first procured in fiscal year 1966 as an interim armed helicopter pending the deployment of the Cheyenne armed helicopter, which had been canceled. As stated previously in this report, the committee has recommended the disallowance of $429 million included in the revised budget for the Cheyenne program, which included funds for the procurement of 121 helicopters. It is the view of the committee that the Army has a pressing requirement for armed helicopters, and $86 million is recommended for the procurement of 170 Cobras. The Cobra is produced by Bell Helicopter Corp., and is equipped with a single T-53 engine produced by the Lycoming Division of the Avco Corp.

Utility aircraft (U-21A).-$7.5 million is recommended for the procurement of 22 U-21A utility aircraft. This is a light, twin turbine utility aircraft with fully feathering and reversible propellers. It is used for rapid troop transport, aerial resupply of priority light cargo, and medical evacuation. With a crew of two and a payload of 10 fully equipped combat troops, or 2,000 pounds of cargo, it has a range of 950 nautical miles. This aircraft is manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corp., Wichita, Kans.

RU-21 surveillance aircraft.-$7.5 million is recommended for the procurement of seven RU-21 surveillance aircraft. This is a version of the U-21A utility aircraft provided with special equipment for the performance of certain surveillance missions. This aircraft is manufactured by Beech Aircraft Corp., Wichita, Kans.

Modification of aircraft.-$65.1 million is recommended for the modification of inservice aircraft. These funds provide for the cost of modifying currently operational aircraft to increase their capa

bility, to extend their useful life, and to improve flight safety. Funds are included for major modification programs for the following aircraft: Chinook helicopters, Iroquois helicopters, U-21A aircrafts, OH-6A observation helicopters, CH-54 Flying Crane helicopters and Mohawk aircraft modifications.

Common ground equipment.-$4.1 million is recommended for the procurement of common ground equipment. The total recommended includes $3.4 million for air mobile aircraft maintenance shelters and $700,000 for aircraft mechanics' tools.

Component improvement.-$11.5 million is recommended for the component improvement program. These funds provide for the engineering cost of the improved reliability and performance of aircraft engines and related systems. The sum recommended includes the following major efforts: Light observation helicopters (OH-6 and OH58A), $3 million; OV-1 Mohawk aircraft, $1 million; CH-47 Chinook helicopters, $1 million; UH-1B/H Iroquois helicopters, $1 million: AH-1G Cobra helicopters, $1 million; U-21A aircraft, $500,000; and CH-54 Flying Crane helicopters, $1 million.

Aircraft support equipment.-$3 million is recommended for the procurement of various types of aircraft support equipment.

First destination transportation.-$2.5 million is recommended for first destination transportation for aircraft and related equipment procured under this budget activity.

Production base support.-$2.7 million is recommended for production base support. These funds provide for several projects for the improvement of manufacturing methods and processes for lightweight ceramic, plastic, and textile materials to be used for personal protection in aircraft. In addition, funds are included for a layaway project for the disposal and redistribution of equipment excess to current and mobilization requirements at plants under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Aviation Command.

Ground support avionics.-$11.6 million is recommended for the procurement of various types of ground support avionics equipment. Of the total recommended $9.3 million is for the procurement of avionics systems for the support of operations in Southeast Asia.

AIRCRAFT SPARES AND REPAIR PARTS

The program recommended by the committee includes $160.7 million for the budget activity entitled, "Aircraft Spares and Repair Parts." These funds provide for the procurement of depot repairable major assemblies and components for aircraft, including provisioning, procurement of initial spares for the support of the Army's two light observation helicopters, the U-21 and RU-21 aircraft, and the AH-1G Cobra armed helicopter. The sum recommended does not include $56.7 million requested for the procurement of initial spares for the Cheyenne armed helicopter.

MISSILES

The sum recommended includes $806 million for the budget activity entitled, "Missiles." These funds provide for procurement, manufacture, remanufacture, and conversion of missile systems, and the Safeguard ballistic missile defense system, including launching and control devices and associated equipment, fire distribution systems, and related production base support. Funds are recommended for the procure

ment of the following missile systems and related support equipment: Safeguard antiballistic missile system. $352.4 million is recommended for the procurement of the various components for the Safeguard antiballistic missile system. Each of the components of this system is discussed below.

Sprint missile.-The recommendation includes $26.5 million associated with the Sprint missile. The Sprint is a two-stage solid propellent vehicle designed for the intercept of incoming warheads within the atmosphere. Of the total recommended, $1.4 million is for the procurement of launch equipment for remote sites; $10.2 million is for the preparation of production; $2.8 million is for installation and test support; and $11.9 million is for production services. The sum recommended also includes $200,000 for advance procurement to support the Sprint program in fiscal year 1971. It is emphasized that the sum recommended for fiscal year 1970 does not include any funds for the procurement of operational Sprint missiles.

Spartan missile.-$76.6 million is recommended for the support of the Spartan missile program. The Spartan is a three-stage, solid propellent, long-range missile which is used in area defense. The sum recommended includes $27.1 million for preparation of production; $8 million for installation and test support; and $41.1 million for production services. The sum recommended also includes $0.4 million for advanced procurement to support the Spartan program in fiscal year 1971. It is emphasized that the sum recommended does not provide for the procurement of any operational Spartan missiles.

Ground equipment.-$249.3 million is recommended for the procurement of various ground equipments for the Safeguard system. Funds are recommended for the following: Grand Forks missile site radar, $56.4 million; Grand Forks missile site radar data processor, $46 million; Grand Forks perimeter acquisition radar equipment, $11.2 million; training equipment. $15.9 million; data processing for soft wear development, $3.5 million; preparation for production, $35.5 million; installation and test support, $10.1 million; and production services, $50.7 million. The sum recommended also includes $20 million for advance procurement to support the fiscal year 1971 program for the procurement of the Malmstrom perimeter acquisition radar transmitter, the Malmstrom missile site radar transmitter, and advanced parts.

In addition to the above discussed funds, the following sums are included in other activities associated with the Safeguard system: production base support, $0.8 million; repair parts, $4 million and communications, $3.3 million.

Redeye air defense missile.-$22.9 million is recommended for the procurement of Redeye air defense missiles. The Redeye is a manned transportable, shoulder-fired, air defense missile and launcher, weighing less than 50 pounds. It is designed for forward area defense against low-flying enemy aircraft. It employs the infrared, heat-seeking homing process in tracking enemy targets, and has its own guidance system, making it capable of inflight maneuvers. It has a conventional high explosive warhead. The missile is fired from the shoulder of a soldier while in the standing position.