Ground war costs dominate defense budget

The most recent Pentagon contract data show more payments for logistics, support and ground vehicles and less money for aviation programs, compared to a year ago. "One year of wartime operations equals about four years' worth during peacetime, analysts say. In Iraq, with the harsh environment, the ratio has been more like one to five." Michael Fabey of Aerospace Daily & Defense Report analyzed 1.5 million defense contracts and related revisions found in the federal contract database available from the IRE and NICAR Database Library.