But Republicans like Senator John W. Warner of Virginia, the ranking minority member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, cautioned against making sweeping changes in American military planning during a period of tumultuous political change in Europe.

Army Gets Biggest Cuts

In discussing his plans for reshaping the military, Mr. Cheney said he had resisted some possible cuts over the next year, including retiring some aircraft carriers. But he did not exclude that possibility in the future. He imposed the biggest budget cuts on the Army, whose mission of defending Western Europe has been brought into question by political changes in Eastern Europe and the withdrawal of some Soviet forces there.

Under Mr. Cheney's plan, the number of Army and Air Force personnel would be reduced in 1991 to its lowest level in 40 years, a cut that includes the elimination of two active Army divisions, the Second Armored Division at Fort Hood, Tex., and the Ninth Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Wash.

Mr. Cheney said three additional divisions, one active and two reserve, would be eliminated in the future if the Soviet conventional threat continues to recede. The Pentagon projects reducing active Army strength in five years by 135,000 soldiers, about 18 percent from its current strength of 764,000.

Other reductions that Mr. Cheney said could be made pending completion of arms control efforts includes cutting Air Force tactical fighter wings from 36 to 31, reconsidering plans to build Trident submarines and other ships, and further cuts in the National Guard and the Reserves.

Mr. Cheney also made public a list of 35 domestic and 13 overseas bases that the Defense Department is considering closing, a move that is expected to touch off a political uproar on Capitol Hill.

Mr. Cheney's stress on preserving a long-range nuclear program is also likely to be the focus of debate in Congress. Many lawmakers have challenged the Pentagon's plan to build Stealth bombers, which cost more than $500 million each, and to increase money for the ''Star Wars'' missile defense system by $900 million when Moscow and Washington are moving to conclude a treaty cutting long-range arms.