The Los Angeles Times reports that Defense Secretary Robert Gates “privately rebuked” Gen. Bruce Carlson for his widely reported remarks that the Air Force would find a way to purchase the number of F-22 Raptors it needs, rather than stopping at the Administration-approved 183. (See our item below) Peter Spiegel of the Times reports that Gates on Thursday called “Carlson’s superior,” Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne. Carlson is commander of Air Force Materiel Command. Air Force leadership has steadfastly maintained that the service needs 381 Raptors. That hasn’t changed. And, lawmakers last fall criticized the Pentagon for quashing independent studies that confirmed the need for a larger buy of the F-22. Word is that top DOD leaders are being ill-served by an OSD staff so biased against the F-22 that they cannot give objective advice. Why would Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England believe the F-22 and F-35 are interchangeable
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.