In its markup of the 2010 defense spending bill, the House Appropriations defense panel, led by Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) not only identified dollars to fund 12 additional F-22 Raptors (see Fueling the F-22 Debate Flames), but also money to...

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates made yet another pitch on Thursday night for killing the F-22 in its tracks. However, he provided no new evidence to support his claim that 187 of the fighters are militarily sufficient. Addressing the Economic...

Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), whose House Appropriations defense panel just opted to add 12 F-22 Raptors to the 2010 defense spending bill, told reporters following his announcement of the markup that he believes a deal can be struck with the...

Despite the pervading myth that the Pentagon decision to end F-22 Raptor production at 187 aircraft is supported by a new requirements study—as would normally be the case when contemplating a major strategy shift—there is no study. The Daily Report was first to report this astounding fact late Wednesday when it pressed OSD for a direct response. JCS vice chairman USMC Gen. James Cartwright just last week fueled this myth by testifying to Congress that there was a study and he would see that lawmakers received it. Sen. Carl Levin referred to Cartwright's words on the "just completed and partnered with the Air Force" JCS study and declared on the Senate floor Wednesday during debate on the 2010 defense policy bill, "There is strong analytical underpinning for the decision of the Administration, including the Air Force," to end F-22 production at 187 aircraft. However, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), in floor remarks July 16, countered the myth: "I am unaware of any comprehensive study that has concluded F-22 production should cease at 187 aircraft. … My staff has inquired about this study and was informed a recently completed comprehensive, analytic study does not exist. No doubt, the Joint Staff has prepared some justification for F-22 termination. Yet I believe it is only natural to question the objectivity of any assessment which justifies previously reached decisions. Unfortunately yesterday, Mr. President, my suspicions about this so-called analysis were proven correct when Geoffrey Morrell, the Pentagon’s Press Secretary, stated General Cartwright was referring to “not so much a study [as a] work product.” (That last is the response Morrell provided to the Daily Report.) Hatch urges Congress to place "great significance" on the professional advice recently provided by Air Combat Command boss Gen. John Corley, who said that, under the present national military strategy, a fleet of 187 Raptors represents "high risk." (Levin's remarks) (Hatch's remarks)

Just because there is no new F-22 study (see above) does not mean that the Air Force leadership did not thoughtfully consider the ramifications of ending production at 187 aircraft. In fact, we now have a copy of the letter that Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz sent July 13 to Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, in which they state: "We methodically reviewed this issue from multiple perspectives. … This review concluded with a holistic and balanced set of recommendations for our fighter force." However, they acknowledged, as they have previously, that the decision to stick with 187 aircraft is largely budget driven and the result of DOD's reassessment of "the number of major combat operations we might be challenged to conduct." In fact, Schwartz told airmen at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, last week, "I am personally convinced that 187 is enough for a single major campaign." Lawmakers remain skeptical of this shift in strategy from the two-major combat operations concept to the single MCO that has driven some weapons decisions yet is still not vetted. (Donley, Schwartz letter)

That is the advice given by former Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne, reports the Washington Times. Asked for his opinion on the current debate surrounding the phantom F-22 study, Wynne wrote in an e-mail: “Why [has] no analytical support been...

One of the senior leaders for the new F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter training unit being set up at Eglin AFB, Fla., already is at work. Navy Capt. Mike Saunders, who will serve as the deputy commander for the...

If an Associated Press report has it right, the US government may be close to working an arrangement with Colombia to host a new base from which the US military could launch its counter-drug missions. US Southern Command has been...

Air Sorties in War on Terrorism, Southwest AsiaJuly 14, 2009 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 24 24 48 8,088 CAS/Armed Recon 15 75 90 18,610 Airlift 128 128 26,451 Air refueling 47 47 8,902 Total 313 62,051...