Posted by
Bull 67 on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 8:08:27 AM
I think we're seeing starting to see a preview for the next Quadrennial Defense Review based on Sec. Gates testimony to Congress yesterday:
From this morning's Boston Globe:
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the Obama administration must make "hard choices" on weapons spending that could include targeting specific programs, according to a draft of his testimony today to the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Gates said it may be time for the Pentagon to more carefully review the planned weapons programs of the individual services to stop costly duplication....
From the Washington Post:
Another issue likely to arise at Tuesday's hearing is defense spending and whether Gates expects the Pentagon budget to decline considering Obama's increased focus on domestic spending.
What caught my attention from these two stories is "stop costly duplication" and "focus on domestic spending." Aviation programs are the most duplicated among the services, notably three types of aircraft: multi-role fighters, helicopters, and unmanned aerial systems. Over the next few years, expect cuts in fighters and shifts in helicopter and UAS programs. In both cases, the Air Force will come out on the losing end.
Fighters are big losers because the F-22 production is stopped at about 200 and F-35 program is over budget and late. The Army already defeated the AF in the Pentagon battle to control UAS operations, and the other services have much higher stakes in helo operations.
The AF is already hunkered down in its "Joint Expeditioary Airmen (JET)" mentality, a staff-speak way of saying "See, we matter, really!" It continues to get hammered for its nuclear mistakes. As defense dollars grow scarce the sharks will begin to circle to strip the service of its already diminished roles.