UPDATED: JSF Cut About 100 Planes, One Year Added to Schedule
Word on Capitol Hill is that the Quadrennial Defense Review should result in the demise of two Navy carÂrier groups and the MarinesÂ’ Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle. On top of that, the Joint Strike Fighter proÂgram is likely to lose a so-far uncerÂtain numÂber of planes and the Air Force looks to lose two air wings.
Folks on the Hill are watchÂing the carÂrier cuts parÂticÂuÂlarly closely. They were willÂing to accept the temÂpoÂrary loss of one carÂrier but two groups may just be too much for lawÂmakÂers to swalÂlow though it would conÂveÂniently answer the hot debate about whether the Navy faces a fighter gap.
“Even if they cut two carÂrier strike groups (which will be an uphill batÂtle for DOD), they still face a sigÂnifÂiÂcant USN fighter gap,” said a conÂgresÂsional aide folÂlowÂing this. “The Navy seems to recÂogÂnize this, but everyÂthing weÂ’ve heard thus far from OSD seems to indiÂcate that theyÂ’d rather try funny math then address a clear gap.”
The 2010 defense authoÂrizaÂtion report noted careÂfully that Congress was willÂing to accept the “temÂpoÂrary reducÂtion in minÂiÂmum numÂber of operÂaÂtional airÂcraft carÂriÂers” from 11 to 10 until CVN 78 is comÂmisÂsioned in 2015. The report also noted that “the Navy has made a long-term comÂmitÂment to field 11 airÂcraft carÂriÂers outÂfitÂted with 10 carÂrier air wings comÂposed of 44 strike-fighters in each wing.” Congress, the reportÂ’s authors said, is “very conÂcerned” about “curÂrent and foreÂcasted shortÂfalls in the strike-fighter invenÂtory.” Given the totemic nature of carÂriÂers for the Navy and the numÂbers of jobs and the money at stake for memÂbers of Congress, a batÂtle royal over plans to perÂmaÂnently reduce the fleet by two carÂrier groups seems assured.
On the Joint Strike Fighter, one conÂgresÂsional aide said a cut to the F-35Â’s overÂall numÂbers would not be surÂprisÂing given the programÂ’s risÂing costs and the tightÂened budÂget sitÂuÂaÂtion the counÂtry faces for 2011. And now we have some detail about just how big those cuts may be, Our colÂleagues at Inside Defense are reportÂing that a draft Pentagon direcÂtive would result in extendÂing, “develÂopÂment by at least a year, reduce proÂducÂtion by approxÂiÂmately 100 airÂcraft and require the addiÂtion of bilÂlions of dolÂlars to the effort through 2015.”
The Marines are unlikely to sit still for the EFV kill. Reports are that Marine Commandant Gen. James Conway will come out swingÂing to preÂserve the abilÂity to kick down the door and ensure forcible entry from the sea. Jones made his basic posiÂtion on the problem-plagued EFV durÂing a May speech at CSIS. |