Smith recommends reduced funding for ABMS

In his mark of the fiscal year 2020 defense policy bill, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) is recommending less funding for the Advanced Battle Management System than what the Air Force requested.

Smith is looking to cut $26 million from the $36 million the service wants for ABMS due to an "unjustified request" but adds $10 million for "sensor fusion and artificial intelligence technology," according to a copy of the "chairman's mark" obtained by Inside Defense.

The $20 million the House Armed Services Committee is set to authorize this week is less than the $26 million House appropriators recommended. In the draft FY-20 defense spending bill, the appropriators attribute giving less than what the Air Force requested to the lack of a "clear execution plan."

The draft appropriations bill also did not contain language on sensor fusion or AI.