In the flurry of activity surrounding the release of the Obama administration’s revised defense budget, it was easy to overlook budget plans for the fifth armed service: the U.S. Coast Guard.
The White House is requesting $9.95 billion in the Homeland Security Department budget for the Coast Guard for Fiscal 2010 -- in part to fund two EADS CASA HC-144A medium range Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
Photo: U.S. Coast Guard and EADS CASA
The HC-144A funding is part of $305.5 million request to pay for air asset recapitalization under the Deepwater program. The Coast Guard also wants to use the money to pay for engine sustainment, avionics, wiring and sensor upgrades for eight Sikorsky HH-60 Jayhawk helicopters; modernizing components and cockpits for 22 HH-65 Dolphin twin-engine helos; and avionics and sensor upgrades for eight Lockheed Martin HC-130H Hercules long range search airplanes.
The budget request also seeks $591.4 million for Deepwater surface vessels, including the fourth national Security Cutter; four Fast Response Cutters and operational enhancement for five Medium Endurance Cutters and three 110-foot Patrol Boats.
Another Deepwater funding request seeks $154.6 million for various equipment and services, including C4ISR.
The Fiscal 2010 request was 3 percent higher ($331.8 million) than enacted the previous fiscal year.
Another Homeland Security Department, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is seeking $19.1 million in the Fiscal 2010 to hire more pilots, boat operators and support personnel.
Included in the $11.4 billion CBP request – at 20 percent, the largest chunk of the Homeland Security budget – CPB Air & Marine is seeking money to hire 68 pilots. Air & Marine says it plans to expand its capabilities across the 5,000-mile northern border as well as on, and over, coastal waters.