According to Congressional Quarterly, the Obama Administration has directed the Pentagon to delay the purchase of new refueling aircraft for five years, and cancel plans for a new bomber. If that decision holds, it would push delivery of new tankers well into the next decade, significantly delaying the Air Force's number-one acquisition program.
We emphasize the word "if," because members of Congress have already vowed to push back on any tanker deferment. In an interview with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Congressman Jo Bonner of Alabama made it clear that additional delays are unacceptable:
The Air Force has consistently said the tanker replacement program is its No. 1 priority. It strains credibility to think a new administration would delay this program five years, denying our military its top equipment need," said Bonner.
"Our nation relies heavily on tankers to project power around the globe, and the average age of our current fleet is 50 years old," Bonner said. "We have been trying to replace these aging aircraft since 2001 – an additional delay would be dangerous to our national security and unsupportable here in Congress. I am hopeful there is no validity to this rumor of an administration delay to this critical program."
One of the contenders for the tanker contract is a Northrop-Grumman entrant (based on an Airbus plane) that would be assembled and modified in Mobile, Ala., part of Mr. Bonner's Congressional district. The Northrop jet is competing against a Boeing tanker, based on its 767 jetliner.
Other sources on Capitol Hill downplayed the report, describing it as part of the "normal" budget process. But call us unconvinced; fact is, efforts to delay (or cancel) the tanker program have been gathering steam in recent months.
As we reported in early January, a recent Congressional Budget Office study recommends deep cuts in defense procurement, saving an estimated $440 billion between 2010 and 2025. Among various options, the report suggests eliminating the next-generation tanker project (KC-X), and using some of that money to refurbish Eisenhower-era KC-135s.
The budget office study is important, for a couple of reasons. First, it satisfies Mr. Obama's desire to cut defense spending by as much as 10% a year. Secondly, the former head of the CBO, Peter Orszag, is now running the Office of Management and Budget, putting him in a powerful position to shape future defense budgets--and implement the recommendations of the study.
Under Mr. Orszag's leadership, the CBO report is emerging as a template for Mr. Obama's defense plans. The study also recommends deep cuts in the Joint Strike Fighter program and limiting--or capping--production of the F-22 Raptor. Air Force officials recently mounted a campaign for 60 additional airframes, which would bring the total inventory to 243.
But sources tell Aviation Week that the service is finding diminished support for the stealth fighter in the Obama Administration. They expect the White House to okay production of 20 additional jets--far below the number requested by the Air Force.
While Pentagon acquisition czar John Young recently a memorandum that keeps all procurement options open, most observers believe that final Raptor totals will be closer to the CBO recommendation (183), than the number wanted by the Air Force (243-331).
Likely cuts in JSF and F-22 production are bad enough, but the tanker delay may represent the worst possible choice. In-flight refueling is a true force multiplier, essential to strike, surveillance and mobility operations around the world.
Further delays in the acquisition process will place a greater strain on existing resources, accelerating the wear and tear on the KC-135 fleet. That, in turn, will drive the retirement of more aging airframes, leaving the military with even fewer tankers to do the job.
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ADDENDUM: The Obama decision would be equally devastating for the next-generation bomber. Cancelling the current program would delay a replacement until sometime after 2020. That puts the development--and fielding--of a new bomber aircraft much closer to the planned retirement date of the B-1 and B-2. At that point in the process, there will be even less margin for error.
We cannot sit back and allow this to happen to our Air Force. This is literally a suicidal path toward reducing our ability to initiate and support air campaigns and those who risk all on the ground. Once again, the Chosen One votes present and will say this decision was the recommendation of his able staff. You cannot rob the military and expect them to continue to perform their mission. This path is an affront to all who serve and will severely diminish America's military readiness.
ReplyDeleteI was afraid this was going to happen, no matter who got into the White House.
ReplyDeleteThe B-1B is a great aircraft.. but I know it has its unique parts problem and we all know that EVENTUALLY.. the B-52H is going to have to stop flying some time down the road.
But Air Refueling.. Obama just dose not understand what its going to mean down the pike for the capability to support the warfighters. He also probably dose not care.
Foolish, and I am sad to see it happen.. America was sold on a bill of goods on "change".. Hopefully a conflict dose not occur that will prove that this form of neglect is going to be the wrong kind of change.
He is doing this purposefully to disallow us the ability to conduct war. This is his pragmatic approach toward stopping US interventionism: take away our ability to intervene.
ReplyDeleteThe last 53 days have pretty well demonstrated what we've got. The question is, how long will it take before the American people figure it out?
ReplyDeleteWe're going to nationalize our economy, create a generation of welfare dependency, and demilitarize all within two years.
Good things do not look to be in our future.
As a KC135 Boom Operator, I can definitely say these jets are showing their age. Like the saying goes, "It may no longer be your father's Air Force...but it sure might be his jet". The 135's were designed for the B-52's back in the 50's and they have been updated and upgraded to keep pace (like most of our aging fleet). The newest KC-135R is a 1964 model, and I fly on 1957 and 1958 models weekly. I'm 41 years old...I don't think I've ever been inside a 1957 Chevy.....It's a shame the Boeing scandal happened. This whole tanker mess may have been avoided, but greedy folks.....
ReplyDelete