The Nation - News from May 17, 1988

At the close of the quarter on Dec. 31, the Pentagon said the 95 major weapons programs that underlie President Reagan’s military buildup carried a combined price tag of $757.25 billion, down $61.8 billion or 7.5% from the adjusted Sept. 30, 1987, total of $819.05 billion. The programs were slashed in order to comply with fiscal 1988 spending limits adopted last fall in a compromise deficit-reduction package. Among programs with significant cutbacks were production of Copperhead artillery rounds and development and production of surveillance drone aircraft.