Grounded Air Force Jets Take Off Again – But Training Budget Still Up In The Air -- Breaking Defense
Today, the US Air Force announced that squadrons grounded since April, from combat units to the famous Thunderbirds, had the funding to fly again – for now. Congress had given the service permission to move some $423 million from other programs into the training budget, enough to keep planes flying until October 1st, when the next fiscal year begins and the military’s money problems may start all over again.
To get the money for that short-term fix, however, the Air Force had to cut back on long-term investments. That includes almost $20 million in new missiles, $50 million in new C-130 transports (mostly the souped-up Special Force version, the MC-130), and about $70 million in upgrades for existing aircraft, from B-1B bombers to F-15 fighters. That’s particularly troubling at a time when most Air Force fighters were built during the Reagan buildup and are wearing out, with one 27-year-old F-15 literally breaking apart in flight back in 2007. (Bombers, on average, are even older, although they aren’t flown as hard). But the service bit that bullet and decided near-term combat readiness had to be the top priority for limited dollars.
Read more ....
MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS
U.N. pens deal for unarmed surveillance drones over Congo -- Reuters
Russia's military conducts largest maneuvers since Soviet times, 160,000 troops involved -- AP
Russia Flexes Military Might in Unusually Robust War Games -- Epoch Times/AP
Putin to Oversee Final Phase of Far East Military Drills -- RIA Novosti
Russia Readies Strategic Bombers in Snap Far East Military Drills -- The Moscow Times
Japan Scrambles Fighter Jets to Track Russian Bombers -- RIA Novosti
Hamas Has A Very Secret Big Rocket -- Strategy Page
US Readies Sale Of Reaper Drones To France -- Defense News/AFP
U.K. Defense Chief Bashes Idea of Reducing SSBN Fleet -- National Interest/Global Security Newswire
First Pakistani women paratroopers make history -- Khaleej Times/AFP
Combat air forces grounded by budget cuts to resume flights -- NBC
HP's Rivals Are Trying To Block A $3.5 Billion Navy Contract -- Business Insider
U.S. Navy Hurries Preparations For War With China -- Strategy Page
The Navy Follows The Army -- Strategy Page
Lawmakers Scrutinize Battlefield Intel System -- DoD Buzz
The battle over Global Hawk -- Air Force Times
National Guard leaders expect furloughs to erode readiness -- Omaha.com
Brigade shuffle to save $400M in construction -- Military Times
Sequestration Would Force Civilian Personnel Cuts in 2014, Hagel Says -- Government Executive
Hagel: Cuts Will Force More Service Uniformity -- Military.com
Intel specialist is 2013 Navy Times Sailor of the Year -- Navy Times
General Sinclair formally enters not guilty plea; trial date set for Sept. 30 -- Stars and Stripes/Fayetteville Observer
Death penalty issue for potential Fort Hood jurors -- AP
Bradley Manning case: lawyers battle over most serious charge -- Christian Science Monitor
American Muslim chaplain finds new role in ministering to Afghan troops -- McClatchy News
Criticized Petraeus to Take $1 Salary at NY School -- AP
Five Myths about AirSea Battle -- Bryan McGrath, War On The Rocks
Where Is the Law of War Manual? Some questions for State and DoD legal adviser nominees -- Edwin Williamson and Hays Parks, Weekly Standard
No comments:
Post a Comment