Jim McAleese is one of Washington’s best known defense procurement analysts. Every year he produces an analysis of what the coming budget will look like, based on comments by senior Pentagon leaders, important strategic documents and comments by prominent political players.

He offers a useful look at the probable winners and losers in this year’s budget. When Defense Secretary Leon Panetta unveils the basic budget on Thursday we’ll get a chance to see how right McAleese is this time.