Aerospace World
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Aerospace World By Suzann Chapman, Managing Editor USAF Presses On With B-1B Cuts Last summer’s controversial pro- posal by the Air Force to reduce its B-1B fleet by one-third and consoli- date the remaining B-1Bs at just two bases will take effect this year, ac- cording to a report USAF officials provided to Congress. USAF plans to reduce its combat- coded bomber fleet to fewer than 100 USAF photo by SSgt. Krista M. Foeller aircraft. The move, the service said, “incurs some risk.” Air Force officials insist, however, that any risk “will be mitigated by mod- ernizing the remaining B-1 aircraft.” Service officials wanted to make the B-1 cuts last year, but that plan was thwarted by a Senate budget amendment that prohibited using 2001 funds for that purpose. The B-1 fleet was running $2 bil- lion behind in modernization funding across the Future Years Defense USAF plans to cut the B-1B bomber fleet by one-third this year. Overall, the Program. By trimming the fleet, USAF service said it will take the long-range strategic bomber force—B-1Bs, B-2s, said, “Our new long-range strike force and B-52s—down to fewer than 100 aircraft. will be more effective, survivable, and supportable.” these changes. The service said it Of that, $14 billion will go to DOD According to the report, USAF plans would provide additional funds to bring and the Intelligence Community, as to make changes to the current total the total for B-1 reinvestment across follows: fleet of 207 bombers throughout 2002. the FYDP to $1.37 billion. $6.7 billion to conduct day-to- It also identified 18 B-52s as excess The Guard unit at McConnell will day military operations, primarily the to requirements. pick up an air refueling mission, fly- domestic Combat Air Patrols and op- USAF plans to reduce main B-1B ing KC-135R tankers, and the unit at erations in Afghanistan; operating bases from five to two. The Robins will become an air control $4.1 billion to pay National Guard Guard will lose its B-1 missions at wing, transitioning to E-8C Joint and Reserve personnel who are on Robins AFB, Ga., and McConnell AFB, STARS radar aircraft. extended active duty; Kan., and B-1s will be removed from $1.4 billion for critical command, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. Dyess Bush Seeks $27.1 Billion To control, communications, and intelli- AFB, Tex., and Ellsworth AFB, S.D., Continue the War on Terror gence support; will be the only two remaining B-1 President Bush asked Congress for $0.9 billion for various programs, bases. $27.1 billion in Fiscal 2002 emergency such as for the detention facility at The Air Force projects a total sav- supplemental funding for counter- Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, information ings of nearly a billion dollars from terrorist efforts at home and abroad. operations, and US Special Opera- tions Command requirements; $0.5 billion to buy precision mu- nitions, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Proposed Total Bomber Force in Fiscal 2002 unique special operations weapons; Aircraft Combat Training Test Backup/Attrition Total and Reserve $0.4 billion for coalition support. B-1 36 16 4 4 60 The new request comes on top of B-2 16 0 1 4 21 $40 billion approved by Congress last B-52 44 12 2 18 76 year. The defense portion of that was Subtotal 157 $17.5 billion. B-52* 0 0 0 18 18 Total 96 28 7 44 175 US Repositions Forces in SWA The Pentagon has been shifting its *Excess B-52s resources within Southwest Asia. AIR FORCE Magazine / May 2002 11 Aerospace World Various news reports have specu- lated that declining relations with DOD Adapts CAPs to Threats Saudi Arabia was the reason. By invitation, the US has had a Administration officials made clear that, news reports to the contrary, major presence in Saudi Arabia since some level of Combat Air Patrols will continue over both New York City and the Gulf War in 1991, and just last Washington, D.C. For security reasons, they said, what form those CAPs will year opened a major, state-of-the-art take would not be revealed. Combined Air Operations Center at Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge told New York elected leaders Prince Sultan air base. reports that the round-the-clock CAPs would end over New York but continue However, Saudi statements re- cently have indicated they would not over Washington were wrong. want the US to use Saudi facilities News reports in mid–March proclaimed that the Pentagon was going to should the US launch operations stop the New York CAPs. against Saddam Hussein in Iraq as “It’s not appropriate to talk about one place vs. another,” DOD spokes- part of the ongoing war on terror. woman Victoria Clarke told reporters. “What we are looking at is a different Army Gen. Tommy R. Franks, who mix of Combat Air Patrol, strip alerts, those sorts of things that will change is in charge of operations in the re- and adapt as the circumstances change and adapt.” gion, told reporters March 29 that he Air Force Brig. Gen. John W. Rosa Jr., Joint Chiefs of Staff deputy director was aware of reported frictions. “I will of current operations, said, “We’ve made it a point to never tell you [reporters] say that Saudi Arabia has been co- or tell folks exactly where we’re going to be, when we’re going to be. It only operative with us in Operation En- makes common sense.” during Freedom,” said Franks. When queried, senior White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said the He noted that the US began repo- issue “will always be reviewed to provide the greatest protection for the sitioning some munitions left over from American people, wherever they are.” the Gulf War about 18 months ago. He said the CAP role is based on intelligence information, threat analysis, He went on to say that the US had and “a whole series of items, including the fact that since September 11th, been increasing or improving its com- domestic security—as any traveler can tell you—has been changed.” mand-and-control capacity in the re- Those changes, he added, include strengthened cockpit doors, the pres- gion. ence of federal air marshals, and improved ground security procedures at “I would not be at all surprised if we airports. are changing the location of some of Defense officials said the improved domestic security environment prompted the assets that we have,” said Franks, them to review the use of CAPs, which have taken a heavy toll on military adding that he wanted to have redun- forces, predominantly the Air Force. From Sept. 11 through mid–March, the dant communications inside the re- services flew more than 19,000 CAP sorties for Operation Noble Eagle. The gion. operation requires some 13,000 personnel and 250 aircraft, including fighter, “I have no plans to move the CAOC transport, air refueler, and surveillance aircraft. The cost, reported the from its current location,” said Franks, Pentagon, from Sept. 11, 2001, through Jan. 31, 2002, was $503 million. when pressed. “That does not say “Over time, as we become more efficient and we learn more about the that I don’t have plans to replicate it threat, we want to become better stewards of the taxpayer’s dollar,” said some place.” Rosa. He noted, though, that the decision on use of CAPs is made with “security and safety first—nothing else.” DOD Stations A-10s at Bagram USAF A-10 attack aircraft were deployed to Bagram air base, north of the Afghan capital of Kabul. This marked the first time the US has sta- Anaconda Ends, Enduring ghanistan, and we’re preparing for tioned fixed-wing aircraft within Af- Freedom Continues any subsequent missions that may ghanistan. “Operation Anaconda is complete, be needed.” The move emphasized what US but Operation Enduring Freedom and officials have been saying, that there operations in Afghanistan still con- CENTCOM Probes 10 Cases of is a long way to go in fighting terror- tinue,” said Brig. Gen. John W. Rosa Alleged Friendly Fire ism within Afghanistan. A-10s have Jr., Joint Chiefs of Staff deputy direc- Out of 36,000 aircraft sorties and participated in operations there but, tor of current operations. the release of 21,737 weapons in the like other fixed-wing aircraft, were US and coalition military members first six months of Enduring Free- flown from outside the country. Hav- launched Anaconda March 1 against dom, said CENTCOM’s Gen. Tommy ing the “Warthogs,” as they are called, several pockets of Taliban and al Franks, his command is investigat- within the country will speed their Qaeda forces in the mountains south ing only 10 alleged friendly fire inci- response times to targets as coali- of Gardez in Afghanistan. The opera- dents caused by US or coalition tion forces continue to root out al tion involved the largest ground ac- forces. Qaeda elements. tivity to date in the war against terror- “We are not ever going to be able Army Gen. Tommy Franks, com- ists and included hundreds of sorties to absolutely eradicate the loss of mander in chief of Central Command, flown by bombers, tactical aircraft, life, and in some cases the loss of the speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” AC-130 gunships, and attack heli- wrong life, when we’re engaged in said the US and its allies must “be copters. this kind of operation,” said Franks.