tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post4181584658441265013..comments2023-12-22T19:58:58.655-05:00Comments on Air Force Association Blog: Wynne's Contrasting ViewThe Air Force Association Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00262071008560681148noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-23232722542386620892009-04-21T15:59:00.000-04:002009-04-21T15:59:00.000-04:00At what cost is single service/indivdual insertion...At what cost is single service/indivdual insertion? Joint ultimately means 'Eyes in the Air and Feet on the Ground.' Perhaps Mind in Space is not too far behind. Also, there may be the Hand Outstretched and where has the AF everconsidered seriously what floats and where. It's all about motion in building and the opposite.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-20718259793547575332009-04-20T10:42:00.000-04:002009-04-20T10:42:00.000-04:00I believe Mike Dunn has done a great deal to lead ...I believe Mike Dunn has done a great deal to lead the AFA into more of an advocacy role; a strong voice for a sensible defense policy and for Air Power. I especially appreciate the links to important speeches and op ed items.<br /><br />Thanks!!<br /><br />Roger RosenbergRoger Rosenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17551016126310690203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-9329811009652123852009-04-20T10:40:00.000-04:002009-04-20T10:40:00.000-04:00This discussion must hinge on the Constitution if ...This discussion must hinge on the Constitution if it is going to be won, not the number of aircraft to be built for a specific program (that is a discussion that follows winning/losing the overarching debate). Our lawmakers, and their appointees, swore to,”…preserve, protect (support) and defend the Constitution…” One of the few things it specifically requires them to do is, “…provide for the common defense…” As they throw billions of dollars at every conceivable thing, they need to be called out and challenged here. Use specific numbers. Rather than decrease the military budget by $57B, return it to the $584B requested, about 4.2% of the GDP. Next year raise it to 5.0% GDP and keep it there until the military is fully recapitalized from the Iraq and Afghan Wars. These wars, at over $800B so far, have been more costly, than Vietnam, less than $700B, yet the military budget averaged over 6% GDP back then, not the 4% GDP it has been for years now. Making our military strong will keep our defense industry strong, providing thousands of the middle class jobs necessary for this country’s economic recovery. It is that military strength that allows our elected officials to pursue the other major tenants in the Constitution, “…insure domestic tranquility (and) promote the general welfare…” Once we achieve agreement here, the merits of specific programs can be weighed more holistically. Discussing them individually makes no sense at all.<br />i. Continuing the F-22, and most agree more than 183 are needed to replace 800 F-15s, will save 95,000 jobs in 44 states for an estimated $12B in economic activity.<br />ii. The Air Force is in desperate need of a new tanker aircraft to replace the KC-135 fleet that averages 45 years old. The total program is for 179 new aircraft at a cost of $35B. Almost all of those jobs, no matter who wins the contract, will be here in America.<br />iii. The average age of the Air Force fleet is 24 years; the average fighter jet is 21.<br />iv. Since 9/11, the Air Force alone has lost 67 aircraft; 43 were UAVs but there were 2 B-1Bs, a B-2, a F-15 and 5 F-16s.<br />v. The Army, Navy and Marines have similar problems.<br /><br />Elected officials, and their appointees, must be able to explain and defend their policy decisions within the broader framework of the Constitution. If they cannot, they should rethink their position or be willing to step aside in favor of someone who is willing to follow their oath of office. We need to move the discussion back to the level with the highest probability of win. Right now we are arguing over branches on the trees, not the forest.JChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00909527960519908719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-91319498841550902272009-04-19T09:55:00.000-04:002009-04-19T09:55:00.000-04:00What cemented SecDef's decision on CSAR was that i...What cemented SecDef's decision on CSAR was that it had Buzz Moseley and Sec Wynne's names on it. Great message to our combatants!Chuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01887619683255328473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-38348698189728994062009-04-19T00:40:00.000-04:002009-04-19T00:40:00.000-04:00Hi. Having worked at Northrop Grumman for over 24 ...Hi. Having worked at Northrop Grumman for over 24 years, now ret., I am well aware of how the gov't handles its contracts and how they can be cx with essentially no notice. The USAF is in a precarious position with the little Napoleon running loose and destroying USAF capability because he does not like it. Every contract starts out with a number that is reduced, often tremendously, during production. ( B-2, F-18, F-22, J-Stars, etc.) The same will happen with the F-35 even after having gutted the F-22 pgm. This little guy does not have the backbone to suggest a way to save hundreds of billions of dollars with no impact to our security; reduce the Marines and fold them into the Army structure. The Army has the greater capability, they just don't have the hype. <br />Nelsson Gabert<br />San Clemente, CA <br />Usaf vet and proud father of a PJ.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01325618438749950389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-31285504813726042122009-04-18T23:33:00.000-04:002009-04-18T23:33:00.000-04:00I feel the f-22 should be replaced by a hypersonic...I feel the f-22 should be replaced by a hypersonic fighter ie 6th generation fighter. the last time we tried this was the sr-71 blackbirdveronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10791364607608958088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-67746993125352399722009-04-18T22:12:00.000-04:002009-04-18T22:12:00.000-04:00My second comment: Is there no way to try this man...My second comment: Is there no way to try this man as a traitor to his country for harming us in the worst sort of way? The Sec. Def. has a lot of gall doing this. Only under Obama could he get away with this, because George Bush would have fired him instantly. The fact that Obama has not slapped him and fired him speaks of collusion.Bubblechaserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506788772788384346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-60835713031751401272009-04-18T19:40:00.000-04:002009-04-18T19:40:00.000-04:00Thank you for your balanced concern for our Air Fo...Thank you for your balanced concern for our Air Force. I am concerned that the SecDef decisions are more a reflection of White House politics than the future of our nation and the USAF. Former SecAF Wynne's recent response was a mature response to the USAF needs for the security of our nation.aplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00043486661971664600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-31780064816735623182009-04-18T19:28:00.000-04:002009-04-18T19:28:00.000-04:001% serve 99 % make the mil smaller do we have a pr...1% serve 99 % make the mil smaller do we have a pray?????????????????tarboxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00157725646981587842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-19195376256633291832009-04-18T19:01:00.000-04:002009-04-18T19:01:00.000-04:00Unless we have the best defense program which incl...Unless we have the best defense program which includes the best Air Force, then Obama will not have to worry about the other items on his agenda.HLongMDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13899172917686553127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-43992047175828197162009-04-18T16:58:00.000-04:002009-04-18T16:58:00.000-04:00The last time we had a truly intelligent SecDef Se...The last time we had a truly intelligent SecDef Secy Robert McNamara, it resulted in the F-111 that was supposed to be a fighter and even a carrier based aircraft. That whiz kid thought too much and did not know how to fly and fight. As the RAF says, "The business of the Air Force is to fly and fight and the business of those who do not is to support those who do."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-42096886100091621722009-04-18T16:23:00.000-04:002009-04-18T16:23:00.000-04:00Dear President Dunn,
I have written to my con...Dear President Dunn,<br /><br /> I have written to my congressmen from NY concerning the proposed reductions, especially bringing the F-22 fleet up to at least 250, and bringing a replacement tanker on-line before our already aged fleet falls out of the sky.<br /> I appreciate your astute observations concerning issues impacting our Air Force and evolving challenges to our security/air superiority. Thank you.<br /><br />Thomas J. Powell<br />Colonel, USAF (RET)TJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01619444617198699634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-57503045424607792612009-04-18T14:50:00.000-04:002009-04-18T14:50:00.000-04:00I'm not as nice. The SecDef is putting this countr...I'm not as nice. The SecDef is putting this country at risk and dangerously so. We're cutting the only 5th Gen fighter in production well below what any reasonable analysis determines is baseline and before the F-35 is available. We're also cutting missile defense in the same week the North Korean's fire a missle over Japan.<br /><br />SecDef has accused the military of next-war-itis. I accuse him of no-war-itis. He naively believes that there will be no air threat in the next war and that predator and reaper uav's can simply troll around enemy airspace and no one will try to shoot them down. He equates these UAV's to an F-16 in some context when he retires 250 aircraft in a year like a Predator can make up for the loss of that aircraft.<br /><br />SecDef, what do you think the Chinese are building all those planes, missles and ships for? A parade? These cuts are irresponsible and dangerous.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13120327024892268560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-75195251324170561202009-04-18T13:52:00.000-04:002009-04-18T13:52:00.000-04:00Will we ever loose our fighter-centric view of the...Will we ever loose our fighter-centric view of the USAF world? You accurately report projected age out rates of the F-16 versus the predicted production rates of the F-35. How about looking at the numbers of Bomber aircraft in the inventory compared to the number of emerging targets that would have to be prosecuted in a war with our potential enemies. Sorry..I don't care how many F-16s and F-35s you have...you can't cover the required target set. If you want to have an impact on our capability to strategically defeat our enemies....start hammering the gutting of our bomber force. 20 B-2s cannot possibly cover all the strategic targets of even a moderately capable enemy.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09759949646778808716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-603033582593679352009-04-18T13:11:00.000-04:002009-04-18T13:11:00.000-04:00agree with your comments. My feeling is that the ...agree with your comments. My feeling is that the F35 production increase will never happen. What with the war costs and (maybe) the KCX, there will not be money to add to increase the build. When the government has extra(sic) money, it is siphoned off to other things. I don't see this administration and congress spending money on DOD.wsomikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15255884117687070434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-23648662818358891822009-04-18T12:38:00.000-04:002009-04-18T12:38:00.000-04:00Thanks Mike for your comments. I wholeheartly agr...Thanks Mike for your comments. I wholeheartly agree with you. While we jack up the finance and auto industries, we let our precious AeroSpace industry go down the drain, which we are all ready regretting.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09692426304881248732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-74994567435774873082009-04-18T12:32:00.000-04:002009-04-18T12:32:00.000-04:00"If you get in trouble, we'll come get you." CSAR ..."If you get in trouble, we'll come get you." CSAR doesn't ask what the service affiliation is, nor do they require a fund cite. When trouble calls they mount up and ride to the sound of the guns. Secretary Gates is so focused on the bottom line he has severely clouded vision. Is it going to take another of Clinton's Mogadishu debacle to clear his vision?Tim Snookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11725527316228244655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-41305785288515567582009-04-18T11:52:00.000-04:002009-04-18T11:52:00.000-04:00Here's an idea for President Obama. Why don't he ...Here's an idea for President Obama. Why don't he take a KC-135 or an equivilant age aircraft the next time he needs to fly someplace? If our "Antique" aircraft are good enough for our men and women of the military, it should be plenty good for him, seeing as all he is in effect nothing more than a passenger. In other words, he doesn't have to fly them and/or fix them. Maybe then he might get an understanding of what the Air Force is complaining about. After all, I can't remember the last time any Air Force One had to devert for an emergency landing because an engine went out or the landing gear malfunctioned. Air Force One aircraft are the most maintained airplanes on the planet. Ask the people that wax them, by hand!jcarrollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00769426377129382811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-71725478713417051772009-04-18T11:48:00.000-04:002009-04-18T11:48:00.000-04:00I am in agreement for the most part on Mike's pers...I am in agreement for the most part on Mike's perspective but we have focused the argument on numbers and not capability; this can diminish our arguments and provide impetus to those who counter this is standard AF dogma. Since the majority of our fighter force has a predominant A/G role, numbers (to a point) are less important than the munitions and ASE provided. An argument couched in terms of JMEMS would carry more credibility, recognizing the totality of the problem cannot be grasped in munitions effectiveness only.<br /><br />John McGregor, Col, USAF (Ret)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15494832443071004246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-68635213916781533162009-04-18T11:45:00.000-04:002009-04-18T11:45:00.000-04:00General Dunn,
The problem you state concerning DO...General Dunn,<br /><br />The problem you state concerning DOD procurement as being "service-centric" also applies to many problems facing the DOD. As stated in my article, "Time for Change in the DOD," it is time to shift to "mission-centric" organization, away from a "service-centric" one. The opening paragraph states the problem in concise terms"<br /><br /> "Throughout the 20th and into the 21st Centuries, rolls and missions of the United States military forces have been a source of consternation, conflict, confusion, congressional hearings, endless debates, articles, books and studies. However, the major problem in the Department of Defense (DOD) is not “roles and mission,” but structure. Does the United States really need four air forces, four special operations commands, four 4-year universities, just to name a few of the questionable duplications of scarce resources?"<br /><br />Dick Myers new book, "Eyes on the Horizon . . etc." supports this viewpoint in comments on 19 pages, but particularly Page 301. The procurement problem you relate is a mere tip of the iceberg.<br /><br />Bill Getz<br />AFA "Lifer"Bill Getzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05566306933164358589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-31270797389512808222009-04-18T10:16:00.000-04:002009-04-18T10:16:00.000-04:00McNamara redux. I believe the Air Force is intenti...McNamara redux. I believe the Air Force is intentionally being marginalized out of existance in favor of other military air assets. <br /><br />The Air Force cannot even get a tanker approved. Air Force leadership has lost the franchise that Hap Arnold and many others fought to give it. I do not know if it can recover as I see no visionaries, just surviviors.Louis Kaplanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11024984036184968814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-38218866855477250452009-04-18T09:34:00.000-04:002009-04-18T09:34:00.000-04:00Mike,
I wish Secretary Wynn hadn't distracted from...Mike,<br />I wish Secretary Wynn hadn't distracted from his comments by using the term "imperial custodianship" to describe the direction of our policy. Even though his comments are right on, the use of the term "imperial" to describe US policy merely plays into the hands of those at home and abroad who say our only aim in foreign engagement is "empire". I don't subscribe to that view and I doubt most of our members do either.Dave Dietschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14367094819259060579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-83148196763024643072009-04-18T09:30:00.000-04:002009-04-18T09:30:00.000-04:00Mike,
I wish Secretary Wynn would not have damaged...Mike,<br />I wish Secretary Wynn would not have damaged the effectiveness of his comments by using the phrase "imperial custodianship" to describe the direction of US foreign policy. While I agree with his assessment, the use of the term "imperial" in any context associated with the US seems to lend credibility to those both at home and abroad who would say that our only aim is empire. I don't subscribe to that view, and I doubt many of our membership do either.Dave Dietschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14367094819259060579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-84825337501452474172009-04-18T08:37:00.000-04:002009-04-18T08:37:00.000-04:00Sir,
I am am the one who asked Gates about the de...Sir,<br /><br />I am am the one who asked Gates about the decision to buy 1,700 F-35 when we still only have 19 B-2. In terms of the Air Force's ability to project power globally, especially in light of less access to regional air bases, it does not make sense to build a regional air force for a global power. We have spent entirely too much time on the fighter debate. As a result we are becoming the Army Air Corps, because we cannot articulate why a global power needs an independent Air Force. What happens if we have to deal with a future SWA regional threat, and the President specifies an airpower only option. Certainly most in the region will not allow us to base any fighters for the purpose of striking their neighbor. That means we have to rely on long range strike. Except that our leadership has lost the ability to convince the public that these are precisely the assets we need. Maybe they are not convinced themselves.<br /><br />Rob SpaldingSpeedohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07287682825736296066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004611408106715980.post-28831730117969368582009-04-18T07:57:00.000-04:002009-04-18T07:57:00.000-04:00The CSAR statement of General Dunn isn't exactly t...The CSAR statement of General Dunn isn't exactly true, either. The Air Force is not the only service that has provided CSAR assets to the JFACC or CFACC. For many years, SOF provided the JFACC with his only CSAR capability (Just Cause, Desert Storm, Deny Flight, Deliberate Force, etc.). Though most were AFSOC assets, ARSOA was available for this purpose during Desert Storm. In my opinion, the best set up we had was during all the Balkans operations of the 1990s, where the entire JSOTF reported directly to the CFACC.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09415481296110703631noreply@blogger.com