Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s readiness subcommittee, stressed the importance of comprehensive readiness of the military to address cyber threats and attacks. As part of a bigger picture of addressing hybrid warfare, Wittman said there is a need to “restore readiness” and work to bolster the United States’ ability to respond to these types of threats by training military members on this issue at all levels. “Making sure we have a military that’s situated to meet cyber threats is as important—if not more important—than their ability to combat kinetic threats,” said Wittman during a Military Reporters and Editors conference in Washington, D.C., on Friday. He added, “The bullets and bombs, we understand those threats. The cyber threats have become more and more of a challenge for us on a day-to-day basis.” Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), a retired Air Force fighter pilot, also said the need to prepare for cyber threats was crucial. However, Wittman noted that readiness was one of the primary capabilities to take a hit, with future readiness following close behind? as budgets tighten.
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.