The Defense Department‘s budget proposal for fiscal year 2013 includes a $5.2 billion cut to the base budget from fiscal 2012, according to Pentagon guidance released Monday.
The Pentagon’s 2013 budget request totals $613.9 billion; $525.4 billion for the base budget and $88.5 billion for operations in Afghanistan.
The proposed budget includes initiatives to save $259 billion over five years through spending cuts and “efficiencies.”
The Pentagon is required to reduce spending by $500 billion over the next decade under the debt ceiling compromise reached in August 2011.
The proposed budget allocates $11.9 billion for science and technology programs, including a $2.1 billion set-aside for basic research.
Military intelligence programs would receive $4.5 billion, including investments in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets.
The 2013 budget also allocates:
- $9.7 billion for ballistic missile defense
- $8 billion for space systems
- $3.8 billion for unmanned air systems
- $3.4 billion for cyber
