The Nation - News from Dec. 13, 1987

The Army is bucking directions from Defense Secretary Frank C. Carlucci and proposing cuts in its weapons-buying and research programs to avoid a reduction in troop strength, according to the Army Times. The paper said the service suggested cutting production in fiscal 1989 of the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. It also proposed killing other programs, including the Aquila surveillance drone and a new fiber-optic guided missile. In exchange for the cuts, the service asked that its active-duty force be reduced by only 100 soldiers--from 781,000 to 780,900, the newspaper said. Carlucci wanted all four armed services to consider reductions in personnel strength and the cancellation of programs instead of trying to stretch out weapons purchases to meet required cuts in the deficit-reduction agreement.