Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz told members of the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday that he expects the Pentagon’s strategic review to be complete by year’s end. That review is likely to outline the fate of the Air National Guard’s newest airlifter, the C-27J, which embarked on its first deployment to Afghanistan this summer. The service already has purchased 21 aircraft, with plans to purchase 17 more. However, that appears to be under debate as service leaders grapple with fiscal uncertainties. Schwartz said the “decision is not final” over whether to put the remaining C-27Js on the chopping block, but he added that such a move “would be extremely painful to me personally.” He explained that he made a “commitment” to retired Gen. George Casey, former Army Chief of Staff, “that I would not do this deal with him and then back out.” The C-27J was originally an Army program, but was later transferred to the Air Force. “That was two years ago, so I’ve got personal skin in this,” said Schwartz. But, Schwartz also said that budget constraints are forcing the Air Force to look at reducing entire fleets, “not a few here and a few there.” (Schwartz written testimony)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.