Orlando, February 18, 2010—The Pentagon’s recently completed comprehensive mobility study finds that there is no need for additional strategic airlift, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley told the audience at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium. In fact, said Donley, the Mobility Capabilities and Requirements Study “reconfirms that we have more strategic airlift tails than we need.” That means the service will try again to retire some of the least capable C-5As and, —Congress take note—the Air Force really doesn’t want anymore C-17s. Continue
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.