Maj. Gen. Frank Faykes, USAF budget spokesman, confirmed for reporters Monday that the 2007 defense budget permits USAF to restructure the F-22A program to produce 20 fighters per year from fiscal 2008 to 2010, squeezing out an extra four fighters for a total of 183. In 2007, USAF proposes spending $2.9 billion to cover primarily the subassembly work for 20 Raptors and some advance procurement costs. The service plans to extend deliveries through fiscal 2012 to keep the Raptor line “hot” in the event of unplanned delay in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. USAF would like to get multi-year procurement authority to cover the next 60 F-35s as a hedge against rising unit costs. The 2007 Air Force budget requests $3.1 billion to cover F-35 systems development and demonstration work, low rate initial production for first five aircraft, and advanced procurement funds for eight JSFs.
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.