Inside Intel

The Defense Department today disclosed that its fiscal year 2014 military intelligence program budget request for overseas contingency operations is $4 billion, bringing its total FY-14 MIP budget request to $18.6 billion.

The Pentagon had released a $14.6 billion base MIP budget figure in April, and in both statements said:

The Department determined that releasing this figure does not jeopardize any classified activities within the MIP. No other MIP budget figures or program details will be released, as they remain classified for national security reasons.

On May 17, however, Pentagon Comptroller Robert Hale signed a reprogramming memo requesting congressional permission to shift $617 million that ostensibly would fund higher-priority military intelligence needs, but also included money for efforts like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and Ground Based Midcourse Defense programs.

That reprogramming request included nearly $191 million "to support funding shortfalls in contractor logistics support for the Persistent Ground Surveillance Sensor System." Specifically:

PGSS provides support of aerostats and sensor capabilities to [U.S. Army Forces Afghanistan]. These are being utilized for persistent surveillance to [forward operating bases] for security, threat targeting, and near to close force protection capabilities. Funding requested allows for 24/7 surveillance coverage as well as facilities operations, sustainment, logistics, safe handling of aerostat system through weather, helium, maintenance and kinetic events. This requirement has been decreased to align with the current [U.S. Central Command] approved drawdown plan and supports contract requirements to December 31, 2013, for periods of performance. This is an MIP project. This is an OCO budget requirement.

The reprogramming also sought $70.5 million to shore up funding shortfalls in system support for the Vehicle and Dismount Exploitation Radar (VADER) system aboard certain intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, plus nearly $75.5 million for the National Security Agency and $46 million for the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, according to the document.