Pentagon plans to shrink army to pre-World War II levels

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel will propose a reduction in the size of the US Army to its smallest size since before World War II and the scrapping of a class of Air Force attack jets, the New York Times reported.

The plans, outlined by several Pentagon officials on condition of anonymity, would be aimed at reducing defence spending in the face of government austerity, after a pledge by President Barack Obama to end US involvement in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Sunday's edition of the paper said.

It would leave the military capable of defeating any enemy but too small for long foreign occupations, and would involve greater risk if US forces were asked to carry out two large-scale military actions at the same time.

"You have to always keep your institution prepared, but you can't carry a large land-war Defence Department when there is no large land war," the Times quoted a senior Pentagon official as saying.

It added that some of the plans may face political opposition in Congress, but quoted the officials as saying that they had the endorsement of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.