• About
    • Mission
    • Biographical Information
    • Contact Us
  • Defense
  • Energy
  • Logistics
  • Innovation
  • In the News
  • Follow
  • Like
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
September 16, 2013November 11, 2013Daniel Gouré, Ph.D.

← Back
← Previous Post
Next Post →

Price Of Next-Generation Air Force Won’t Be Cheap

September 16, 2013November 11, 2013Daniel Gouré, Ph.D.

The U.S. Air Force is confronting the harsh reality that acquiring a modernized fleet of fighters, bombers and support aircraft will not come cheaply. Not only is the Air Force going to have to get smaller to become better, but it may have to eliminate entire fleets of still airworthy platforms.

The Air Force must move as rapidly as possible into the fifth-generation of combat aircraft. This means accelerating procurement of the F-35. It also means a serious effort to define the requirements for a new long-range penetrating bomber. Finally, it means networking both legacy and new platforms to create a “combat cloud.”

But in the current budget environment, focusing on the future means taking significant near-term reductions. The Air Force’s leadership is considering such drastic steps as eliminating all A-10 ground attack aircraft and all KC-10 tankers. In addition, the Air Force will need to cut back on the number of F-16s and F-15 Strike Eagles it retains. Saving O&M funds to be applied to the modernization accounts will require not just cutting platforms but their associated infrastructure, supply chain, parts inventories and personnel.

President Obama recently sought to reassure the American people that the U.S. military doesn’t do pinpricks. However, unless the Air Force and Navy find the money they need for modernization, that is all they may be able to do against emerging threats.

Print | PDF | EMail

Find Archived Articles:

This entry was posted in Early Warning Blog. Bookmark the permalink.
Sign Up For
LexNext Emails
1600 Wilson Boulevard - Suite 203
Arlington, VA 22209 USA
Phone: 703.522.5828
Fax: 703.522.5837
© 2023 Lexington Institute

Sign Up for LexNext Emails

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign Up for LexNext Emails

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.