The Air Force and the Army are moving forward on the Joint Combat Aircraft despite “some minor differences” and should achieve a production decision by the end of May, says Lt. Gen. Howie Chandler, USAF deputy chief of staff for operations, plans, and requirements. (The Defense Acquisition Board has JCA on its schedule for May 30.) Chandler told the air-land panel of the Senate Armed Services Committee last week, “Those differences are going to be so minor that, whatever we need to do with those, we’ll have plenty of time to make adjustments as we work the program through.” The Army expects to start production on its version this fiscal year, with USAF following in Fiscal 2010.
“Military history shows that the best defense is almost always a maneuvering offense supported by solid logistics. This was true for mechanized land warfare, air combat, and naval operations since World War II. It will also be true as the world veers closer to military conflict in space,” writes Aidan…