Gates asks for money for armored vehicles

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WASHINGTON, July 18 (UPI) -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates asked the U.S. Senate to move more than $1 billion from other accounts to provide armored vehicles for U.S. troops in Iraq.

Gates told senators Tuesday that the Pentagon has found means to produce Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles more quickly, USA Today reported.

"It's going to take a little extra money," he said.

The money will come from maintenance and repair accounts and be added to $2.4 billion already allocated to MRAP vehicles.

John Young, head of the Pentagon's MRAP task force, told Defense News on Wednesday that Gates requested $1.165 billion to buy 2,650 more vehicles. Young said that more than $600 million would come from programs that have been canceled and the rest would be transferred from vehicle maintenance and other accounts.

U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., chairman of the Appropriations Committee, suggested that the money will be available, USA Today said.