Gates Sharpens His Axe

Gates Sharpens His Axe: Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced sweeping cuts in defense programs today, the budget axe falling particularly hard on Air Force systems.

n F-22: End the buy at 187 aircraft.

n F-35: Accelerate the buy in 2010 to increase the number of test assets available; in the end there will be about a dozen fewer aircraft.

n Air Force Fighters: Retire 250 fighters in Fiscal 2010 (Air Force request).

n Combat Search and Rescue Helicopter: Terminated.

n New Tanker: The KC-X program will go forward; request for bids expected this summer; Gates is still adamant on not having a split buy.

n Transformational Satellite: Terminated; instead will purchase two additional Advanced Extremely High Frequency communications satellites.

n Airborne Laser: Terminate the second aircraft, relegate the existing asset to research only.

n C-17: End the line; the 205 now in service or on order are sufficient.

n 2018 Bomber: Postponed.

4/6/2009

On the Record

Mission One
"The health and safety of our pilots—all of our pilots—is our utmost priority. Our operational flight surgeons and our medical staff interact with our pilots on a daily basis."
—Brig. Gen. Daniel Wyman, Air Combat Command command surgeon, speaking to reporters during a teleconference, May 9, 2012. He was emphasizing that the Air Force is doing all it can to ensure the safety of F-22 pilots as service officials continue to home in on the cause of why some Raptor pilots have experienced hypoxia-like symptoms in the cockpit like difficulty concentrating, fatigue, headaches, and nausea.

On the Record

Message to Congress
"If you give us force structure back, give us the money, too. Because the quickest way I know to a hollow force is to give us structure without money. Simple as that. . . . 'Make it work' is not a satisfactory solution."
—Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz articulating his message to lawmakers on the Air Force's Fiscal 2013 budget proposal during a speech at the Stimson Center in Washington, D.C., May 1, 2012. The Air Force leadership has proposed reducing force structure and personnel next fiscal year in order to maintain a ready and capable force as the service absorbs significant spending cuts.