Evening star., 1961-03-28

gether with reduced numbers
and increasing ohsolescence Of
the remaining aircraft, make
necessary the development Of
an advanced tactical fighter
emphasizing non-nuclear ca
pabilities. I am requesting $45
million in new obligational au-
thority for this purpose.
Meanwhile, I am recommend
ing $25 million in new obliga-
tional authority for the modi-
fication Of the F-105 tactical
fighter to improve its capabil-
ity to handle conyentionally
armed ordnance items, and to
increase its suitability for air.
strips Of all types Of areas.
E.. Increased personnel, train
ing and readiness for conven-
tional forces. I am recon-
mending $39 million in new
obligational authority for in
creases in Army personnel
strength to expand guerrilla
warfare units and round out
other existing units, and an
increase in the Marine Corps
to bring 1t up closer to author
lied levels. lin addition, per-
sonnel is being added to the
Navy for PolariS crews, and to
the Air Force for the ground
alert expanSion.) The sum Of
these personnel additions is
$4,000 men. I am also recon-
mending $25 million additional
in new obligational authority
for pay Of retired personnel Of
the military forces -. / am
recommending an additional
$65 million in new obligationalt
authority for increased readi-
ness training of Army and Air
Force units =.
~. SOvings Mode Possible by
Progress.
The elimination of waste, du-
plication and outmoded or un-
justifiable expenditure items
from the defense budget is q
long and arduous undertaking,
resisted by special arguments
and interests from economic,
military. technical and other
special groups. The ma
tional interest must he weighed
against special or local inter-
eSts; and it is the national in
terest that calls upon us to cut
our losses and cut back those
programs in which q very dim
promise no longer justifies q
very large cost. Specifically:
/. Our decision to acquire q
very substantial increase In
second generation solid fuel
missiles Of increased invulnera-
bility (Polaris and Minuteman)
enables US to eliminate safely
the last two sQuadrons Of Titans
Originally contemplated. These
would not have become opera
tional until 1864, and at o cost
Of $270 millior-.a cost several
times that of the Minuteman
missiles we are purchasing for
the same period and could in-
crease with our standby facility.
500 million in the 1862 budget
can be saved by this adjust
ment.
2. The phase-Out Of q num-
Der Of BAT medium bomber
wings already planned win be
accelerated to provide promptly
the trained crews required for
the expanded ground alert pro-
gram (fiscal 1862 savings: $S5
million.) h
3. Additional personnel will
also be made available by the
immediate phaSe-oub OF the
Subsonic Shark airbreathine
long-range missile, which Ii
now considered obsolete and OF
marginal military value in view
tof ICBM Developments, the
Sharks low reliability and PEN
etrability. the lack Of positive
control over its launchings, and
the location Of the entire wing
at an unprotected site. (Fiscal
1862 savings: 81 million.)
4. The acquired missile ca
pability programmed by this
message also makes unneces-
sary and economically unjusti-
fable the development Of the
BIO Mach 3 manned bomber
as a full weapons system at this
time. In view Of the ex-
tremly high cost Of the BIO
system, its lesser Survivability
as q ground-based system and
its greater vulnerability in the
air compared to missiles, its
capabilities as a second strike
system do not appear to have
sufficient advantages over 9
much less expensive missile. OF
even q B-52 or successor bomb
er equipped with Skybolt, to
Justify q request in Fiscal 1852
for $3.50 million.