The Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense panel said it remains concerned that the concurrency in the developmental testing and production of the F-35 strike fighter could necessitate costly upgrades to early production aircraft later on, and ultimately might jeopardize the future of the entire program. Accordingly, the panel reduced funding for the F-35 program by $695 million next fiscal year in its mark-up of the Pentagon’s Fiscal 2012 budget request last week. It also decided to keep F-35 production rates at Fiscal 2011 levels. The panel also zeroed out the $145.8 million requested for the A-10 wing replacement program, which it said is “significantly” delayed, according to the panel’s report accompanying the Senate’s version of the Fiscal 2012 defense appropriations bill. Click here to continue to the full story. (SAC-D report; caution, large-sized file.)
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.