Over the next six years the US Army will contract from 570,000 to 490,000 regulars, while the marines will reduce from 202,000 to 182,000. Eight out of the army's 45 regular Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) will be disbanded, including two of the four currently based in Europe. Stryker BCT numbers will remain at six. Funding for the army's Ground Combat Vehicle (to replace the Bradley) amounts to $640 million for R&D. However, some army and marine corps capabilities will see a moderate rise in funding: the number of active combat aviation brigades will increase from 12 to 13, and the fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will grow, as will army special operations forces and cyber capabilities. The marines will lose one of their nine infantry regiment HQs and four regular infantry battalions. They will retain an amphibious fleet of large vessels, though in lower numbers than originally intended.
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