was the most interesting part, especially when compared to previous reporting.
http://www.defenselink.mil/transcrip...nscriptid=4396
One good exchange:
Which is even more interesting when you compare it to this interview by the CSAF (by law responsible for military advice to SECDEF):GATES: For me, it was not a close call. And the basic conclusion was that, first of all, we have fulfilled the program. I mean, it's not like we're killing the F-22. We will have 187 of them. That has -- the 183 of that has been the program of record, as I recall, since 2005. So we are completing the F-22 program. And the military advice that I got was that there is no military requirement for numbers of F-22s beyond the 187.
Q: What about the Air Force advice? They've been (allegedly ?) badgering you with all sorts of analysis that they need 60 more.
GATES: That was their advice as well.
Q: Excuse me. It was their advice as well that --
GATES: Yes.
Q: -- that you didn't need more than 187?
GATES: Yes.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gener...F22s021709.xml
Hmmm... it seems like there is a disconnect somewhere. I will be curious to see what the congressional testimony by the uniformed folks ends up being.“We looked at this in a dispassionate and analytical way” and produced a number that “I feel is credible,” Schwartz said during a Defense Writers’ Group breakfast this morning in Washington. The general said he would not release his new number until presenting it to Defense Secretary Robert Gates - but he noted he would not disagree with statements from Navy Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who told Congress 60 more F-22s were needed.
Also interesting to look at the National Military Strategy and its requirements vs. the air superiority assets we will have with 187 F-22s and 250 less F-15Cs/F-16s...
I fully agree on the need to re-orient and have a "full spectrum" force... but if your strategy results in you needing X aircraft, X-310 = strategy-capabilities mismatch. A lot of risk is going to be accepted if this goes through.
Anyone out there involved in QDR/know when a new NMS might be out?
V/R,
Cliff
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