In his July 30 summary of the just-completed markup of the 2009 defense spending bill, Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), chairman of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, said his panel had “added and redistributed funds that will prepare our military for future threats and future conflicts.” He is in the so-called “next-war-itis” camp. The panel’s markup actually is $4 billion less than the Administration request, but it provides full funding for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (including restoring funds for the controversial alternate engine) and boosts funding for intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance efforts and advance procurement of the fourth Advanced Extremely High Frequency communications satellite. The panel would also fully fund 20 F-22 Raptors, as requested by the Administration and provide $523 million for advance procurement of another 20 Raptors, which USAF had requested in its unfunded requirements list, to keep the production line going. (Read more on the F-22 in Going Head-to-Head)
Air Force Changes Rules for Pregnant Aircrew—Again
April 3, 2025
The Air Force is changing its policy for pregnant aircrew, generally reverting to rules set in 2019 that barred female aviators from flying during the first trimester—or from flying in aircraft with ejection seats at all—due to potential risks to the pilot and her unborn fetus.