The Air Force’s new beddown roadmap (see above) identifies seven operating locations for the C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft—all of which would be in the National Guard—but senior leaders say there will be more. The C-27J is seen as an “ideal” aircraft for the Guard, particularly in supporting domestic military response to natural or man-made disasters, a mission described in Air Force-speak as “consequence management.” However, the bases listed represent only those places where the Air Force might base its initial 40 or so C-27Js. After a tactical airlift study now being finished makes the rounds, USAF is expected to expand the number of C-27Js it will buy, and many are likely to go into the active inventory. Moreover, Air Force Special Operations Command is readying a requirement to use the Spartan as the basis for a mini-gunship.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
