Fri, Sep 04, 2009
Details Leaked For USAF 5-Year Budget Plan
Citing savings of almost $3 billion
over the next five years, the U.S. Air Force is considering
cancelling a planned software upgrade for its fleet of C-130
transports, Bloomberg News reports.
Boeing won the contract to write and install the upgrades in
2001. It is the largest of 16 programs the service is considering
for cancellation due to budgetary concerns. Air Force Officials are
currently reviewing the 5 year plan, which will go to President
Obama along with a detailed FY2011 budget in January.
A Boeing satellite communications system is also on the chopping
block as is a Lockheed Martin terrestrial-based communications
system.
The Pentagon directed the Air Force to cut 3.8 percent, or about
$24.2 billion from its current five-year plan, Bloomberg reports.
In a document prepared for senior Pentagon officials and presented
last month, Lieutenant General Raymond Johns, deputy chief of staff
for strategic plans and programs, wrote the proposed budget has a
goal of protecting “to the greatest degree possible”
funding for the F-35 JSF, the V-22 Osprey, and the aerial refueling
tanker program, the Air Force's top three aviation priorities.
Documents obtained by Bloomberg indicate other programs that
could be cut are the Northrop Grumman Corp. program to build new
engines for E-8 Jstars reconnaissance aircraft, cutting the number
of advanced Block 40 Global Hawk drones being built by Northrop
Grumman to eight from about 22, and canceling the Joint Tactical
Radio program, a communications system that Lockheed is building
for the Air Force and Navy, which the Navy has also put up for
cancellation.
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