FACTBOX: U.S. defense spending in new Bush budget

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Following are key elements of defense spending contained in President George W. Bush's budget request for fiscal year 2009, which begins on October 1.

-- Regular Department of Defense budget $515.4 billion, a $35.9 billion or 7.5 percent increase over the level approved for fiscal year 2008.

-- An additional $70 billion as an emergency allowance for the Global War on Terror, mainly the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, for part of FY09. The administration has said it expects to request more later this year.

The regular Department of Defense budget includes:

-- $183.8 billion for military modernization efforts

-- $158.3 billion to improve the readiness of the U.S. military

-- $20.5 billion to increase the size of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. The Army plans to add 65,000 soldiers to create a force of 547,000. The Marine Corps plans to add 27,000 Marines for a force of 202,000.

-- $10.5 billion to continue with a missile defense system to protect the United States and its allies.

(Reporting by Andrew Gray)