Apparently discussions between Michigan legislators and Army Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, head of the National Guard Bureau, convinced Blum that he should recommend that the Pentagon station some of the new Joint Cargo Aircraft at the Air National Guard facility in Battle Creek, according to Rep. Joe Schwarz (R-Mich.). (We reported on the Michigan sales pitch last month.) The Enquirer reports that Schwarz on Wednesday publicly stated that the effort had NGB backing. ANG’s 110th Fighter Wing at Battle Creek stands to lose its A-10 Warthogs by 2009 under BRAC 2005.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.