On Friday, the Air Force released a list of force structure changes for Fiscal 2010 that Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said “reflects our best effort to meet the expanding Air Force mission areas and growing joint demands.” He added that the decisions required “some hard choices.” This list, the Air Force said, does not include several programmatic actions, including basing for the C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft, which has concerned lawmakers with the Pentagon’s reduction of the program from 78 to 38 airframes, and follow-on missions for units affected by the service’s planned combat air force restructure—the early retirement of some 250 fighters. The narrative provided by USAF details the force structure changes by state for active and reserve components. (USAF release and accompanying narrative)
Earlier this week, the People’s Republic of China confirmed it is halting its nuclear arms control talks with the U.S., in retaliation for the U.S. continuing to sell arms to Taiwan. The move reinforces a “pattern of behavior” from Beijing, experts say.