Reagan Forum coverage -- Part 3

Here is the third portion of our coverage from last week's Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, CA, now available to all.

DOD contemplating revised spending plan that strips nearly $40 billion from FY-22 expectation

SIMI VALLEY, CA -- Political dysfunction in Congress is driving Pentagon leaders to contemplate a major internal budget drill to craft a second, parallel plan for fiscal year 2022 that would wring nearly $40 billion from expected spending plans and prepare for major setbacks across the weapon system modernization portfolio.

Senior DOD official: Additional Patriot force structure may be needed to meet demand

SIMI VALLEY, CA -- Pentagon leaders are concerned about the health of the Army's Patriot force, particularly the stress that high operational tempo and limited deployment predictability is having on readiness, driving soldiers to leave units that provide the cornerstone of air and missile defense for deployed forces and allies.

New amphibs face budget shortfall; big decks now eyed as unmanned 'motherships

SIMI VALLEY, CA -- The Marine Corps needs more money in fiscal years 2023 and 2024 to buy Light Amphibious Warships, critical to service plans to establish new littoral units that can nimbly move shore-to-shore inside China's striking range, while contemplating a radical new use for its big-deck combatants: "Motherships" to unleash unmanned air and undersea systems.