The Sustainable Defense Task Force, the group of defense analysts established by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., is calling for a wide range of cost-cutting measures. If adopted, $960 billion in savings over the course of the next 10 years could be achieved.

• Cap routine peacetime U.S. military presence in Europe at 35,000 and in Asia at 65,000.

• Reduce nuclear weapon stockpile and curtail nuclear weapons research.

• Curtail national missile defense efforts.

• Reduce military personnel by 200,000, yielding a peacetime active-duty military of 1.3 million.

• Reduce the size of the U.S. Navy from its current strength of 287 battle force ships and 10 naval air wings to a future posture of 230 ships and eight air wings.

• Roll back the number of U.S. Army active-component brigade combat teams from the current 45 to between 39 and 41.

• Retire four of the 27 U.S. Marine Corps infantry battalions along with a portion of the additional units that the Corps employs to constitute air-land task forces.

• Retire three U.S. Air Force tactical fighter wings.

• End or delay procurement of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, MV-22 Osprey, KC-X Aerial Refueling Tanker, and the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle – and field less expensive alternatives.

Source: The Sustainable Defense Task Force

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