[Senate Hearing 115-437]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
----------
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017
U.S. Senate,
Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations,
Washington, DC.
The subcommittee met at 10:36 a.m., in room SD-192, Dirksen
Senate Office Building, Hon. Thad Cochran (chairman) presiding.
Present: Senators Cochran, Shelby, Murkowski, Blunt,
Daines, Moran, Durbin, Tester, Udall, and Schatz.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Air Force
Office of the Secretary
STATEMENT OF HON. DR. HEATHER WILSON, SECRETARY
opening statement of senator thad cochran
Senator Cochran. The Committee on Defense Appropriations
will come to order.
We are here today to receive the submission by the
Department of Defense, and the U.S. Air Force in particular,
about the funding needs for the next fiscal year.
We appreciate very much you providing us copies of the
statements and responding to questions our staff has had with
your staff members about this proposed budget for fiscal year
2018.
The purpose of this hearing is to specifically review the
funding and the $132.4 billion in base funding and $13.9
billion to support ongoing Overseas Contingency Operations. For
those who love acronyms, that is referred to as OCO.
The Air Force leadership has presented this fiscal year
2018 submission to request investment of resources into
improving war fighter readiness, achieving program balance, and
building capacity. That is a big order, and we appreciate the
fact that there have been a lot of people working long and hard
to make choices that reflect our needs for the United States
Air Force.
Our witnesses this morning are Dr. Heather Wilson,
Secretary of the Air Force and General David L. Goldfein, Air
Force Chief of Staff. Secretary Wilson is making her very first
appearance before the Committee as Secretary of the Air Force.
She has more than 35 years of professional experience in a wide
range of Government and private industry responsibilities.
We look forward to hearing more about the details of the
priorities and the appropriations needed to ensure that the
United States Air Force is trained, equipped, and prepared to
defend our interests around the world.
We thank you for your presence and your discussions with us
prior to the hearing in preparation for the hearing. We have
statements that you have submitted to the Committee and we will
see that they are included in the record.
I will first recognize the Vice Chairman, Mr. Durbin, the
Senator from Illinois, who is not here.
Senator Shelby, do you have a statement?
Senator Shelby. Thank you, Chairman Cochran, for holding
this hearing to review the fiscal year 2018 budget request for
the Department of the Air Force. I also want to thank Secretary
Wilson and General Goldfein for joining us today. The goal of
this hearing is to ensure that we are providing the necessary
funds to train and equip our Air Force to fly, fight, and
succeed in air, space, and cyberspace--maintaining our
objective of global vigilance. We appreciate your service and
look forward to hearing how your budget balances these
important priorities.
Senator Cochran. Are there other members of the Committee
who would like to make an opening statement?
Vice Chairman Durbin is our distinguished Senator from
Illinois, and we are prepared to yield to him for any opening
statement he would like to make.
[The statement follows:]
Prepared Statement of Senator Thad Cochran
Good morning, the subcommittee will come to order.
Today we will receive testimony on the fiscal year 2018 budget
request for the Department of the Air Force.
The budget request recommends $132.4 billion in base funding and
$13.9 billion to support ongoing Overseas Contingency Operations. The
Air Force leadership shaped the fiscal year 2018 budget submission to
invest resources into Improving Warfighter Readiness, Achieving Program
Balance, and Building Capacity.
Our witnesses are the Honorable Dr. Heather Wilson, Secretary of
the Air Force, and General David L. Goldfein, Chief of Staff of the Air
Force.
We are pleased to welcome Secretary Wilson and General Goldfein for
their first appearance before the subcommittee. Thank you for your
service and leadership.
We look forward to hearing more about your priorities and the
appropriations needed to ensure the United States Air Force is trained
and equipped to defend our interests around the world.
Thank you for your testimony this morning. Your full statements
will be included in the record.
I now recognize Vice Chairman Durbin, the distinguished Senator
from Illinois, for his opening remarks.
STATEMENT OF SENATOR RICHARD J. DURBIN
Senator Durbin. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Let me apologize. There were conflicting committee hearings
with the judiciary committee. I tried to stop in there quickly
and unfortunately, I am late here. I apologize.
I am pleased to join you in welcoming the Secretary of the
Air Force, the Honorable Heather Wilson and Chief of Staff of
the Air Force, General David Goldfein, to our hearing and to
review the budget for fiscal year 2018.
Like each of our military services, I am seriously
concerned that the President's budget proposal does not move us
any closer to a budget deal or a solution to sequestration. We
have to face that.
If I sound like I started the day having a little drink for
breakfast, it is because I just left the dentist. So forgive me
if I sound a little slurred.
Let me put the rest of my opening statement in the record
with your permission.
Senator Cochran. Without objection. It is so ordered.
[The statement follows:]
Prepared Statement of Senator Richard J. Durbin
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to join you in welcoming the Secretary
of the Air Force, the Honorable Heather Wilson, and the Chief of Staff
of the Air Force, General David Goldfein, to our hearing to review the
Air Force's budget request for fiscal year 2018.
sequestration
Like each of our military services, I am seriously concerned that
the President's budget proposal does not move us any closer to a budget
deal, or a solution to sequestration.
The stakes are high. The Air Force stands to lose $15 billion in
funding requested in its budget to sequestration. Even worse, those
cuts could come in the form of mindless cuts to every line and program,
preventing you from protecting important programs and sacrificing
others.
As of today, there are no ongoing negotiations to change the Budget
Control Act's strict spending caps. It appears that this Congress is
likely to do one of two things: provide more funding for the Defense
Department through a massive OCO gimmick, or simply kick the can down
the road for several months and hope that we stumble onto a solution
for sequestration, perhaps even by accident.
This is no way for the greatest nation on earth to run the world's
most powerful military.
pilot shortfall
There are two other matters that I hope the witnesses can address
in their opening statements.
General Goldfein, there are reports that the pilot shortage in the
Air Force could reach as high as 1,500. This is particularly alarming
because of the importance of our air power to reassure our European
allies of our commitment to their defense, as well as current
operations against ISIL.
This subcommittee needs to know how this shortfall developed, what
is being done about it today, and how this budget proposal will address
the problem.
rocket engines
Secretary Wilson, last year, the Senate voted to approve a plan to
phase out the Russian RD-180 rocket engine, which is currently vital to
our ability to launch certain satellites.
Congress is doing everything in our power to make sure we replace
this engine with an American-made one, as soon as possible. I would ask
you to update the Subcommittee on whether this program is on cost and
on schedule, and if there are any risks that we need to know about.
conclusion
Mr. Chairman, thank you for calling this important hearing, and I
look forward to hearing from our witnesses.
Senator Cochran. Madam Secretary, we are pleased to
recognize you as the Secretary of the Air Force for any opening
statement you may have.
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF HON. DR. HEATHER WILSON
Secretary Wilson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I will say a few things, and make a few highlights, and
then I will ask the Chief if he would do the same.
A couple of things to, perhaps, take away from this
hearing, and from the statement, and the budget that we have
presented to you all. The first, and probably the most
important, is that the Air Force is too small for what the
Nation expects of it.
The fiscal year 2017 budget began to arrest the decline and
to restore the readiness of the force. So this budget, fiscal
year 2018 budget, starts us, I hope, on the road to recovery.
So what does it really do? What does this fiscal year 2018
budget really do for the Air Force?
It continues to recover readiness and for us, for the Air
Force, readiness is first and foremost about people and their
training. We are short of people and this budget starts to turn
back up after about a decade of decline.
The second big thing it does, with respect to readiness,
has to do with munitions and we have several things in the
budget that funds additional munitions to replace stocks.
We also need to modernize the Force. So we are starting to
recover readiness, but we have also got to modernize for the
long term and make the Force more lethal.
This budget funds 46 F-35 fighters, 15 KC-46 tankers, and
continues the B-21 program to get that going, but it also has
upgrades to a lot of other equipment; the F-22, the F-15, F-16.
So there are a number of pieces of modernization in this budget
in addition to readiness.
I would like to talk for a little bit about space. I am the
principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense with respect to
space for all of the Department of Defense.
The Air Force has been the leader on space for the Defense
Department for 54 years. We provide GPS for the world. Most of
you probably have it on your phones or drove here this morning
using it. That is courtesy of six young airmen who live in
Colorado Springs, Colorado.
We do missile and nuclear detonation warning, weather,
secure command and control of communications, all of that is
enabled by the United States Air Force for the other services
and for civil society.
When General Goldfein and I were young officers, space was
a benign place. In fact, it was a benign place probably up
until the early 2000's. Actually, I served on the House
Intelligence Committee in 2007 when the Chinese launched a
kinetic intercept and destroyed one of its own dead weather
satellites.
It is not a benign place anymore. Our adversaries know that
we are heavily dependent upon space capabilities and that we
are vulnerable. We have to expect that war will extend into
space in any future conflict.
This budget proposal has a 20 percent increase for space.
That means situational awareness, the ability to not just
catalog what is up there, which we would do in a passive and
benign environment, but to have a near real time understanding
of what is going on in space, who is moving, and where they are
moving to.
Secure command, control, and communications of space. It is
not to know where things are. We have to be able to control
things in an integrated way. This budget funds an Integrated
Battle Management Command-and-Control System for the Army,
Navy, Air Force, and intelligence communities on the same floor
looking at the picture in space and deciding what we should do
to protect our assets there.
We need assured access to space. Competition is reducing
launch costs for satellites. We now have two providers for
medium and heavy launch, the SpaceX Falcon 9 will go up again
on August 17. And we have an emerging small satellite launch
industry that is going to bring the costs of access to space
down for the United States Air Force, which is a very good
thing.
We also need the ability to defend ourselves in space. That
means systems, but also tactics and training. We need things
like anti-jam GPS, which is funded in this budget.
We have a National Space Defense Center that has been
experimenting for a little over a year with new tactics
techniques, and capabilities. They have identified the top 40
user needs to be able to defend ourselves in space, to take a
punch and keep on providing the services that people need who
depend on space capabilities.
Finally, training to prevail. We are changing the way we
train our airmen who are operating space systems so that they
have advanced wartime operations and concept development.
So those are the things that we are doing with respect to
space in this budget.
Last week, I announced a reorganization within the
Department of the Air Force with respect to space capabilities
so that we integrate, normalize, and elevate space as a part of
the joint war fighting team.
And with that, I would like to ask if Chief Goldfein might
be able to add some things.
STATEMENT OF GENERAL DAVID L. GOLDFEIN, CHIEF OF STAFF
General Goldfein. Thanks, Madam Secretary and thank you,
again, for stepping up to serve once again. It is an honor to
serve with you these 39 years later. I am honored to fly on
your wing.
Chairman Cochran, Ranking Member Durbin.
Thank you again for holding this hearing.
I want to spend just a few moments and dive a little deeper
into a statement the Secretary made about our Air Force being
too small for the missions that the Nation relies on for us to
perform today. Because many of the missions that we perform,
both to defend the homeland and project power, and to do those
missions that we do abroad, have become assumed capability to
the American people.
And so, I would like to walk you through the missions that
we are doing now simultaneously to both defend the homeland
from the homeland, project power forward, and what we do when
we are deployed and based forward. And for the Air Force, it
begins with the nuclear enterprise.
Standing side by side with the United States Navy, we are
responsible for two of the three legs of the nuclear triad: the
bomber leg and the missile leg. And on our worst day as a
Nation, our job is to make sure that we have the Commander-in-
Chief where he needs to be, when he needs to be there. Through
Nuclear Command and Control, which we are responsible for, that
he stays connected to a ready force to be able to defend this
Nation and deter adversaries as we also assure our partners.
For an airman, our nuclear enterprise--safe, secure, and
reliable--is job one.
To be able to get the indications and warnings he needs to
make the decisions he needs to make on our worst day as a
Nation, much of the intelligence surveillance and
reconnaissance comes from space, whether we want to talk about
early warning, protected communications, or as the Secretary
mentioned, precision navigation and timing.
Twelve constellations today are being flown by airmen and
we join a long line of Secretary and Chief Teams who have been
stewards of space since 1954, and we look forward to talking
about more of that in this hearing.
Someone has to turn the ones-and-zeros that we collect into
a common operational picture and decision quality information.
And that very often falls on 35,000 airmen who are in the
Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance business, ISR, as
we call it.
Whether we want to talk about airmen who are flying
missions from Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, who are
contributing to the fight against ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq
and Syria) and other intelligence collection around the globe,
or those who are doing the analytical work 35,000 airmen today
are doing the work that presents that common operational
picture for leaders to be able to make decisions.
Side by side with our sister services, we are in the
business of building cyber mission and cyber protection teams.
You will see in this budget that we are on track to complete
the 39 teams that we perform in terms of cyber defense and
cyber offense.
Just to put it in perceptive, in 2016 alone, there were
over 1.3 billion adversarial connects into our networks that we
were able to thwart. That turns into about 40 per second, when
you do the math. And so, we do that with our sister services as
we build the cyber mission teams that Admiral Rogers relies on
to be able to defend the critical infrastructure of our Nation.
If you heard jet noise this morning coming into the
building, it very well may have been from two F-16's that
scrambled from Andrews Air Force Base just as we do across the
Nation to protect the critical infrastructure of this country
and perform the work for General Lori Robinson in her role as
the NORTHCOM Commander.
Those are the missions that we do just here in the homeland
to defend the homeland and project power abroad.
Now, let me shift to what we do across the globe when we
are faced forward and deployed forward. It begins with gaining
and maintaining air superiority, which is the freedom from
attack and freedom to maneuver.
For airmen, it is nothing short of a moral obligation to
ensure that we establish air superiority quickly whenever and
wherever it is required.
Put it very simply, when a soldier, sailor, airman, or
marine are on the ground, and they hear jet noise, we never
want them to look up. We want them to know it is us.
Once we have achieved air superiority, we operate on a
system of bases across the globe. Every 2\1/2\ minutes, an Air
Mobility Command aircraft takes off or lands somewhere on the
globe to deliver critical supplies or personnel when and where
they are needed.
Many of those bases are in under-governed territories or in
unsecured areas. And so, we rely on our special forces, our air
commandoes, to go and to secure those bases. I would offer to
you that we are a global power because of our ability to
achieve global reach.
I cannot give you a better example of holding targets at
risk with precision strike than launching two B-2's from
Whiteman Air Force Base in January, fly 32 hours roundtrip, 16
air refueling, and hit two targets with 80 precision guided
munitions within 10 seconds of their planned time over target.
Finally, in the fight against ISIS, Lieutenant General
Harrigian commands a force of over 16 nations that are
committed to the fight against ISIS. It is the United States
Air Force that is leading the charge in terms of taking the
attack to the enemy.
Whether you want to talk about the fighters that are
overhead, whether you want to talk about the command and
control, the tankers, we provide about 70 percent of the force.
To put this in perspective, in 1991 had I been talking to
the Air Force as the Chief of Staff, I would have been talking
to an Air Force of just shy of 1 million active Guard and
Reserve, and civilian airmen. Today's Air Force is a total of
660,000; over 30 percent smaller.
If I had been talking to an Air Force in 1991, I would have
been looking at an Air Force of over 8,600 aircraft, 134
fighter squadrons from which we deployed 34. Today, the grand
total in your United State Air Force active Guard and Reserve
is 55 squadrons total.
This is a much smaller force that is engaged in the same
level of activity as we were in 1991 to emphasize the
Secretary's point that we are too small for what the Nation
requires us to do.
We did not get here overnight. We will not recover
overnight. But with your help, if we move beyond sequester and
the damaging effects that that has caused the Air Force that we
are still recovering from, the last round, and if we can get
continuous, stable budgets we can turn this around. And with
your help, we will provide our airmen the quality of service
and the quality of life that they so richly deserve.
Thank you, Chairman. I look forward to your questions.
[The statement follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Dr. Heather Wilson and
General David L. Goldfein
the future of air and space power
Air and space power are vital to our Nation's security. Any
objective evaluation of today's U.S. Air Force reaches stark
conclusions.
--First, the Air Force is too small for the missions demanded of it
and it is unlikely that the need for air and space power will
diminish significantly in the coming decade.
--Second, potential adversaries are modernizing and innovating faster
than we are, putting at risk America's technological advantage
in air and space.
The resources provided in fiscal year 2017 have begun to arrest the
readiness decline. The fiscal year 2018 President's Budget request
begins to restore readiness and increase the lethality of the force.
Future budgets must focus on modernization and continued readiness
recovery so that we can defend the homeland, own the high ground, and
project power in conjunction with allies.
an air force in demand
Today's Air Force is growing after a period of significant decline
and we must continue to increase the size of the force. Currently, the
Air Force includes 660,000 active, guard, reserve and civilian Airmen,
compared to 946,000 just 26 years ago when we fought in Operation
Desert Storm--a 30 percent reduction.
The Air Force also reduced its aircraft inventory over this same
period from 8,600 to 5,500 aircraft. We have 55 combat-coded fighter
squadrons across the active duty, guard, and reserve, compared to 134
squadrons during Desert Storm.
Before 1991, the Air Force bought approximately 510 aircraft per
year. In the past 20 years, we have averaged only 96 per year. Today,
the average age of our aircraft is over 27 years.
And, unlike during the Cold War, Air Force aircraft have been
flying in combat for 26 straight years. When the Islamic State of Iraq
and Syria (ISIS) sought to consolidate power in Syria and northern Iraq
in 2014, the U.S. Air Force surged to the fight. Since then, Airmen
have executed over 70 sorties daily against ISIS targets. Coalition air
forces have put over 80,000 weapons against enemy targets in over
26,000 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria since the campaign began. Over 70
percent of those strikes have been conducted by the U.S. Air Force.
Last year alone, MQ-1 and MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft crews flew
more than 351,000 hours and employed more than 3,000 weapons, removing
thousands of enemy combatants from the battlefield and protecting U.S.
and coalition forces.
Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance provides
warfighters over 6,000 intelligence products per day that are used to
identify enemy targets and initiate 70 percent of Special Operations
Forces assaults on terrorists.
Air Force-operated space-based sensors provide around-the-clock
global coverage for missile warning, nuclear detonations and other
threats.
And Air Force cyber operators blocked more than 1.3 billion
malicious connections in 2016 alone, an average of more than 40
malicious connections per second.
While we continue to extend the life of old aircraft, materials
suffer fatigue and maintaining old equipment is time consuming and
expensive.
We are short of maintainers and pilots. While flying hours to
defeat ISIS overseas is a priority, training to confront near peer
adversaries has suffered. We are at our lowest state of full spectrum
readiness in our history. Only 50 percent of our squadrons are ready to
conduct all of the missions assigned to them.
The decisive warfighting advantages we hold over our near peer
adversaries are diminishing.
Air and space superiority--owning the high ground--is not America's
ordained right. We cannot take it for granted. We must plan for it,
equip for it, train for it, and fight for it.
the changing security environment
Adversaries are rapidly developing new capabilities to control air
and space. They seek to undermine the credibility of our alliances,
contest our freedom of maneuver, and neutralize our ability to project
power. Over the past several years, their targeted investments in
critical capabilities have outpaced our own.
Russia continues its aggression and malign influence in Ukraine and
Syria while seeking to return to great power parity with the U.S. by
modernizing its military.
China is fielding new defense platforms at a startling pace and
continues to expand its regional influence in the East and South China
Seas.
North Korea is accelerating nuclear and missile testing. Their
actions in the Pacific increase risk of miscalculation and threaten the
security of our allies and the homeland.
Iran continues to support international terrorist organizations and
extend its negative influence throughout the Middle East while
modernizing an array of military capabilities.
Each of these state actors possesses or is pursuing advanced long-
range capabilities with the potential to strike American soil.
At the same time, violent extremist organizations and individuals
inspired by them are threatening America and our allies.
Potential adversaries are quickly closing the gap in the decisive
warfighting advantages we have held for decades. As their capabilities
become stronger, the international order will grow more unstable and
the strategic risks to American security and our global interests will
increase. Staying ahead of these trends will require a concerted,
coordinated effort.
stopping the decline
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 begins to arrest the
decline and focuses on starting to restore the readiness of the force.
The funds for fiscal year 2017 address critical capability shortfalls,
and enable us to start to address delayed procurement and modernization
of our force. This is a critical first step in restoring the Air
Force's capabilities to meet future threats. We must have stable,
predictable budgets that include strategy-driven funding.
We also add our voice to the chorus of concern that budget
instability is itself a significant problem. Continuing resolutions, or
worse, sequestration, puts at risk our ability to successfully
accomplish what our Nation asks of us.
A failure to provide relief from the current Budget Control Act
caps would cut $15 billion from the Air Force budget--a reduction that
would further hollow out the force and set us back years.
restoring the force
Looking ahead, we are focused on restoring readiness, cost-
effective modernization, innovation for the future, and developing
exceptional leaders. These areas of focus will allow us to defend the
homeland, own the high ground, and project power in concert with our
allies.
Of course, there is an assumption behind our plans. As a Nation,
since the end of World War II, America has chosen to be a global power,
capable not only of defending the homeland, but gaining and maintaining
dominance over areas of operation abroad. We have an Air Force that
provides global mobility, global intelligence surveillance and
reconnaissance, global strike, and global command and control to
protect our vital national interests in concert with allies.
Threat drives strategy; strategy drives force posture. America's
national security interests continue to be global in scope, requiring
an Air Force which goes beyond homeland defense or regional power
projection.
restoring readiness
The Air Force budget recognizes that we cannot restore our
readiness in a single year. When we lose an F-22 avionics specialist
with 10 years of experience, we cannot hire another person with 10
years of experience on the F-22. We have to recruit them, train them,
mentor them and, most importantly, retain them.
For the Air Force, readiness is first and foremost about people.
personnel--restoring readiness
The fiscal year 2017 budget increased active duty manpower to
321,000 Airmen. The fiscal year 2018 President's Budget request
continues to rebuild the force to 325,100 active duty Airmen, while
also adding 800 reservists, 900 guardsmen, and 3,000 civilians. The
Total Force will increase to 669,611 people from 660,707 in fiscal year
2017. The additional personnel are focused on increasing maintainers--
particularly for the F-16 and F-35A, increasing remotely piloted
aircraft crews, and increasing pilot training capacity by adding two
new F-16 formal training squadrons. It also allows us to reduce
critical gaps in our space, nuclear, cyber, and intelligence career
fields.
Pilot retention continues to be a significant concern. We project a
deficit of approximately 1,500 total active, guard, and reserve pilots
at the end of fiscal year 2017 and trending further negative in the
near term. Our fighter pilot shortage has already reached crisis levels
and we will be approximately 1,300 Total Force fighter pilots below the
requirement at the end of this fiscal year. There will be no single
solution and no quick fix for the pilot shortage. This budget expands
pilot training, continues incentive pay and bonuses, increases
administrative support at the squadron level, improves readiness, and
funds flying hours.
This budget request also includes 1,168 military and civilian
positions to support squadron commanders so that ``additional duties,''
which were shifted to operators, aircrew, and maintainers over years of
personnel cuts and most recently in the wake of sequestration and the
Budget Control Act, can be performed by dedicated support staff.
Squadrons are where readiness is generated and sustained, and where
Airmen and families thrive. It is also where leadership matters the
most. We are working to revitalize squadrons as the most essential
level of command and the heart of our Air Force. Over the coming year,
the Air Force will be reviewing leadership development, particularly at
the squadron level.
In order to restore readiness, the budget request includes $6.2
billion to fund flying hours at maximum executable levels and $11.9
billion to fund weapons system sustainment (parts, maintenance and
logistics support) to near the maximum executable level. While the
budget for flying hours decreases slightly from fiscal year 2017, this
reduction is largely because of a decline in fuel costs.
Further, the fiscal year 2018 President's Budget request funds a
continuation of 641 active, guard, reserve, and civilian positions
dedicated to Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR).
Finally, this budget request is vital for the quality of life for
our Airmen and their families--funding a 2.1 percent increase in
military pay, a 3.2 percent increase in basic allowance for housing,
and a 3.4 percent increase in subsistence.
munitions--restoring readiness
In addition to adding people and training, this budget request also
addresses munitions. In the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, the
Air Force has delivered more than 56,000 direct attack munitions from
the air. That is more than we used in all of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Our use of munitions in operations is out-pacing production.
Working with industry, the fiscal year 2018 President's Budget request
funds maximum factory production of the most critical munitions,
including the Joint Direct Attack Munition, the Hellfire missile, and
the Small Diameter Bomb.
cost-effective modernization
While restoring readiness is primarily about the size of the force,
quality training, and munitions, for the long term the Air Force must
modernize its weapon systems and equipment to defeat emerging threats.
The fiscal year 2018 President's Budget request budget prioritizes
our top three acquisition programs to modernize the force: the F-35A
fighter, the KC-46 tanker, and the B-21 bomber.
The F-35A is essential to our national security--a stealthy multi-
role fighter needed to own the high ground and project power against
increasingly capable adversaries. This budget request funds the
purchase of the next 46 F-35A fighters with a goal of reaching 60 per
year in the future. The budget also focuses on restoring readiness and
modernizing our 55 combat-coded fighter squadrons.
We have enhanced our air refueling capability by entering initial
production of the KC-46 Pegasus tanker. The KC-46 program modernizes
our aerial refueling fleet, providing global mobility for the joint
force and our allies. The fiscal year 2018 President's Budget request
buys 15 more KC-46 aircraft. The Air Force expects to sustain steady
state production of 15 KC-46 aircraft a year throughout the Future
Years Defense Program (FYDP).
We are rapidly developing the B-21 Raider long-range strike bomber.
The B-21 will form the backbone of our future bomber force, ensuring
the ability of our Nation's leaders to hold targets at risk around the
world with both conventional and nuclear weapons.
While the F-35 fighter, the KC-46 tanker and the B-21 bomber are
our top modernization priorities, there are a number of other
modernization efforts supported in the fiscal year 2018 President's
Budget request. These include the modernization of F-22A, F-15, and F-
16 aircraft so that they remain viable, along with B-52, B-1, and B-2
bombers for strategic delivery of advanced munitions.
In the realm of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, the
Air Force continues to support the MQ- 9 Reaper, RQ-4 Global Hawk, and
RC-135 Rivet Joint upgrade strategies.
The fiscal year 2018 President's Budget request supports special
operations and combat search and rescue with the purchase of two HC-
130J and five MC-130J aircraft. We also sustain our commitment to
command and control by funding several upgrades to the E-3 Airborne
Warning and Control System (AWACS).
modernizing the nuclear deterrent
All legs of our nuclear triad need to be modernized. The last major
recapitalization of U.S. nuclear forces occurred in the 1980s. In the
case of the Air Force, maintaining our aging nuclear weapons systems
remains critical but it becoming more expensive and less practical.
Nuclear deterrence underpins national security for the United
States and our allies. The Air Force stewards two legs of the Nation's
strategic nuclear deterrent and operates 75 percent of the nuclear
command, control, and communications for the President and the military
chain of command. Additionally, forward-based nuclear capable aircraft
are a key component of the U.S. commitment to deter attack on our
allies.
The intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force represents the
most responsive leg of the nuclear triad. The dispersed basing of our
land-based deterrent enhances strategic stability by creating an
extraordinarily high threshold for a large-scale conventional or
nuclear attack on the U.S. homeland. The air-delivered leg of the triad
and dual-capable fighters provide a recallable, and highly visible
force to extend deterrence, demonstrate resolve, and signal U.S.
strategic commitment to our allies.
In addition to the B-21 bomber, the Air Force is committed to
modernizing the nuclear enterprise by replacing Air-Launched Cruise
Missiles with the Long Range Stand-Off cruise missile, modernizing
ICBMs with the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), replacing the
UH-1N helicopter, and making targeted investments in nuclear command,
control and communication.
meeting the space threat
For decades, the United States enjoyed unimpeded freedom of action
in space. This benign environment allowed us to operate satellites for
intelligence collection, missile warning, weather monitoring,
communications, and precision positioning, navigation, and timing
without considering how to protect these systems. That environment no
longer exists. Our adversaries understand the advantages we derive from
space and are actively pursuing capabilities to diminish them. In
future conflict, space will be contested.
The Air Force has been the leading military service responsible for
space systems for 54 years, and the Secretary of the Air Force is the
principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense on space.
Over the last several years, the U.S. Air Force has been developing
operational concepts to ensure freedom of action in space, changing the
way we train our space force, and integrating space with the joint
force.
The fiscal year 2018 President's Budget request increases the Air
Force's space investment funding from $6.5 billion in fiscal year 2017
to $7.8 billion, a 20 percent increase. This increase represents a 27
percent increase in research, development, testing and evaluation
(RDT&E) for space systems and a 12 percent increase in space
procurement.
The budget request includes a fixed price block buy of Space Based
Infrared Systems (SBIRS) 5 and 6 satellites. The budget funds purchase
of terminals, ground control systems, and related communications
security for satellites and funds three launches as part of the Evolved
Expendable Launch Vehicles (EELV) program.
To fill a gap in weather coverage, the budget request funds a
weather satellite through the Operationally Responsive Space (ORS)
office.
While our existing Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites
remain healthy, we face increasing risk from potential adversary
advances, and will improve anti-jamming and secure access to military
GPS.
The Air Force budget also funds the continuation of the Space
Security and Defense Program and the National Space Defense Center
where we are experimenting with concepts to ensure freedom of action in
space and resilience in an integrated center that includes all sister-
services, as well as the intelligence community. It also funds
improvements in space situational awareness, which is foundational for
space control, integrated ground systems and improved training of space
forces.
Our budget supports the continued integration and normalization of
space in the joint warfighting environment and places a high priority
on space to ensure that our space systems continue to operate in a
contested environment. We would prefer that war not extend into the
space domain, but must be prepared to win if it does.
modernizing cyber
The fiscal year 2018 President's Budget request funds 39 offensive
and defensive cyber teams that are on track to be fully operational in
fiscal year 2018. The budget anticipates an increased reliance on
contractors for basic information technology and cloud services so that
military members can focus on advanced threats and warfighter missions
as part of the joint force.
innovation for the future
Research, development, test and evaluation are critically important
for a technically oriented service. The fiscal year 2018 President's
Budget request includes a significant increase in funding for systems
development and testing for the B-21, the Global Positioning System
Operational Control System (OCX) and the Long Range Standoff cruise
missile. Funding is also included for engineering and risk reduction
for the Presidential Aircraft (PAR), Joint Surveillance and Target
Attack Radar System (JSTARS) replacement, and the new Combat Rescue
Helicopter.
Funding for basic and applied research related to longer-term
national security challenges remains flat in this budget request,
although funding for long term research on air dominance is increased
significantly. Over the next several years, the Air Force will seek to
increase basic and applied research in areas where we must maintain the
competitive advantage over potential adversaries, including game-
changing technologies like hypersonic vehicles, directed-energy,
unmanned and autonomous systems, and nanotechnology.
accelerating procurement
To prevail against a rapidly innovating adversary, the Air Force
must get capability from the lab bench to the warfighter faster than
ever before.
In the fiscal year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act,
Congress expanded acquisition authorities for the services. Taking
advantage of this flexibility, the Air Force is sponsoring an
experiment in August 2017 to evaluate low-cost, permissive environment
attack aircraft. While this is an experiment, not a procurement, the
project has gone from approval by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force
to an operational capabilities assessment in five short months.
The Air Force is also testing new procurement methods with early
stage, highly innovative companies who do not normally do business with
the Department of Defense. If successful, we will seek to replicate
this approach. While not appropriate for large system development,
these kinds of projects can open the pathway to rapid innovation for
air and space dominance.
infrastructure and military construction
Constrained by the Budget Control Act, the Air Force has
prioritized combat and not infrastructure. The fiscal year 2018
President's Budget request includes $2 billion for military
construction. The beddown of new missions, combatant commander needs,
and strengthening the nuclear security enterprise have been given
priority for the limited funding available.
In addition, the fiscal year 2018 President's Budget request funds
construction of improved ranges at the Utah Test and Training Range and
Red Flag in Nevada so that we can train using the full range of
capabilities available to our aircrews in the F-35A. The budget also
funds additional virtual and constructive, or ``synthetic'',
Operational Training Infrastructure (OTI). Synthetic capability
provides opportunities to test and train against the world's most
significant threats at reduced cost.
The Air Force supports the Department of Defense request for
authorization to conduct a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round in
fiscal year 2021. Completing the more detailed analysis once a BRAC is
authorized will have value, and may highlight opportunities for some
savings. Enduring savings from BRAC recommendations will leave more DoD
resources available for future force structure or readiness
requirements. BRAC also allows us, if the analysis supports it, to
reposition forces or station new forces in locations that optimize
their military value.
conclusion
The fiscal year 2018 President's Budget request begins to restore
Air Force readiness with a focus on people, high quality training,
squadron support, and critical munitions.
The budget request also invests in top priority procurement to
increase the lethality of the force with the F-35A fighter, KC-46
tanker, and the B-21 bomber while also making significant investments
in space, the nuclear deterrent, and special operations.
As we enter our 70th year as a separate service and our 26th year
of continuous combat operations, we have presented a budget that starts
to turn the corner by building on the fiscal year 2017 budget that
arrested years of decline.
As important as program funding is, we also need budget certainty.
A return to the current Budget Control Act caps will pose
unmanageable--and unacceptable--risks to our ability to protect
America's vital national interests.
We request that Congress support this budget and provide fiscal
predictability for the Air Force so that we can support the National
Military Strategy by defending the homeland, owning the high ground,
and projecting power in conjunction with allies.
Senator Cochran. Thank you very much, General Goldfein and
Madam Secretary Wilson.
Give us the benefit of your oversight of what we should be
doing about pilot shortages. We know that there are increases
needed in training at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi,
for example. We understand there are demands throughout for
more pilots to be trained in the future than are now being
trained.
Could you give us an overview of what the challenges are? I
would like both of you to respond to the question.
General Goldfein. Yes, sir.
Just a couple of numbers upfront just to put it in
perspective, we require an Air Force of about a little over
20,000 pilots to do all the missions that we perform. Right
now, we are about 1,555 overall short.
The most critical point right now, we are finding, is in
the fighter pilot business where we are about a little over
1,200 short of what we need. So the way we are attacking this,
actually, is through a number of different activities.
The first thing we are doing is we are having a national
level discussion. I hosted a meeting with airline CEO's, both
majors and regional and the key industry partners. We
acknowledged the fact that as a Nation, we do not produce the
number of pilots that we require nationally to service both
defense and commerce.
And so, we are looking at a number of working groups that
we have now established to take a look at how we increase the
supply across the Nation beyond just what is required for the
military because the airlines are desperately short of the
pilots they need. So first of all, we are attacking it at a
national level.
Then within the military, what we are looking at is what
can we do to improve the quality of service and the quality of
life associated with duty as an airmen in the Air Force, as a
pilot, so that we can increase our retention rates?
We appreciate what Congress has done by allowing us to up
the aviation bonus to $35,000 which we think is going to have
an effect. And so, what we have done is we have tiered that on
a business case analysis based on the greatest need to ensure
that we are paying money to those that we have to retain the
most, relative to the amount of time it takes to replace them.
The second thing that we are doing is the Secretary and I
are working on a number of initiatives to improve quality of
service, and that goes to getting them in the air.
Pilots who join the Air Force join to fly high performance
aircraft. Pilots who do not fly, maintainers who do not
maintain, air traffic controllers who do not control are not
going to stay with us. So you will see in this budget
investment in getting pilots airborne.
We are looking at a number of initiatives to be able to
reduce what we call the irritants, and those things that are
actually degrading readiness over time in the force in this
much smaller force that is heavily tasked to ensure that we
increase white space on their calendar.
So all of those things that we are doing, both at the
national level within the service and across the Joint Chiefs,
we are attacking to get after this.
Senator Cochran. Secretary Wilson, would you like to
respond to that question?
Secretary Wilson. Sir, just to add a few things into what
General Goldfein said.
Readiness is a retention issue. If we are asking pilots to
do a job and we are not giving them the flying hours and the
support they need to do the job, they are much more likely to
leave. So if we can increase readiness and make sure that those
jets are ready to go when they go out to the flight line that
helps.
I would also say that in this budget, there are over 1,000
new positions to add in at the squadron level. Life for an
airman is at the squadron level. And when the Air Force went
through sequester before, a lot of that support was taken out.
So you had pilots doing things like scheduling and other things
that were additional duties that they probably should not have
been doing. So this puts more support back in at the squadron
level with over about 1,000 people.
There is not going to be one solution to this. We are
increasing pilot training from about 1,200 a year to 1,400 a
year. But we have got to do a hundred little things to increase
retention in the force.
Just as one example, the Chief went out and talked to a lot
of pilots on what are the irritants? And one of them was the
explosion of required online distance training. You have to go
through the road training stuff on the computer every year and
there were actually 69 required hours every year of this stuff
that had just accreted over time, whether it is safety training
for how to use the fire extinguisher or whatnot.
Some of that is important, but we reviewed it all and then
we reduced it from 69 hours down to 8 hours of mandatory
distance-delivered training.
So let us get some of the gunk out of the system, and make
it a little cleaner, and improve the quality of life, and
quality of service.
Senator Cochran. The chair recognizes the Senator from
Illinois, Mr. Durbin.
Senator Durbin. Thanks a lot, Mr. Chairman.
And following up on that, I am told that one of the reasons
that pilots do not get enough flying hours is because of the
shortfall in aircraft maintainers; 3,400 aircraft maintainers
short of what you need.
As a result, the Air Force cannot guarantee the sorties
needed to fully train its aircrews. This budget includes 1,000
new maintainer positions. It takes 5 to 7 years to train
someone to be an aircraft maintainer.
The situation, the way I see it, gets a little more complex
when you look at your recruitment, although you are meeting
targets, it appears, for active duty and for Air Reserve. Well,
I know there is an issue with pilots in the Air Reserve, which
we had discussed.
General recruiting, you are requesting doubling the amount
that is allocated for advertising and recruitment, which is a
signal to me that you need to put in more resources to get the
men and women into the Air Force that have the potential of
filling these important positions like maintainers and such.
Then I go through the analysis of who is eligible, who
could be recruited. It turns out fewer than a third of those
who apply can be accepted. Others are disqualified for a
variety of reasons; 71 percent are disqualified. Medical issues
are a big part of this, the largest disqualifier being
overweight, 17 percent; psychiatric issues, 13 percent; skin
and allergy, 10 percent; lung and chest including asthma, 6\1/
2\ percent.
The next is 17 percent eliminated because they do not score
well, either their educational achievement or their scores;
then comes conduct violations. And then comes a long list that
we have learned of things that used to disqualify you, which
now no longer disqualify you for service in the Air Force. So
it appears that standards are at least being changed, if not
weakened and diminished.
So I look at the overall picture here in terms of
readiness, and it looks like we are quite a few steps away from
where we want to be, and our first problem turns out to be the
quality of recruits. The availability of quality recruits.
I know you want the best, and we do too, to protect our
Nation, and to serve in the Air Force, and our military
service.
I step back from this and say, it turns out that part of
the problem with getting readiness into the military is getting
readiness into the American population. Our young people are
not prepared to even serve their Nation here by your standards
that you have established.
And as we cutback in areas like healthcare, which we are
now debating in the Senate, as we cutback in areas like
educational investment, it diminishes the likelihood we will
have a pool of quality recruits in the future.
So I wish you would comment on that, either one or both of
you, please.
Secretary Wilson. Senator, I just came to the Air Force
from being a President of a university in South Dakota, and
talent is in demand at every university, and in the United
States Air Force as well.
The Air Force is a highly technical service and we try to
recruit the best we possibly can. They have to be worldwide
deployable and all of those kinds of things.
Fortunately, the Air Force has never once in its history
ever had to draft anyone because we have always had enough
willing volunteers, who are highly qualified, who want to serve
in the United States Air Force, and we are proud of that.
We do want the best and brightest, and we are increasing
the number of people we are taking in, in order to increase the
size of the Force. But as they get trained, they become more
and more valuable. That is true in cyber. It is true in
maintenance. It is true in pilots. So we have highly capable,
qualified folks with a lot of experience.
The issue with readiness is that if I lose a maintainer on
the F-22 at a 10-year point, I cannot just hire a maintainer
with 10 years of experience on the F-22. We have to grow them.
One of the biggest challenges is actually absorbing those
young people into a maintenance squadron, and giving them the
mentorship, and the time on task with a more senior airman to
teach them the ropes.
So it is the absorption problem that is actually one of our
biggest challenges.
Senator Durbin. But you are asking to double the
advertizing and recruiting budget for the Air Force?
Secretary Wilson. I am not sure it is double, but I can
check that for you.
Senator Durbin. I think it is a pretty substantial
increase.
Senator Cochran. The time of the Senator has expired.
Senator Durbin. Thank you.
Senator Cochran. The distinguished Senator from Alabama is
recognized.
Senator Shelby. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
General Goldfein, I will start with you.
I believe it is very critical that we deliver the fifth
generation fighter to maintain our air superiority. It is also
important for the Air Force to train, as we have been talking
about, this next generation of pilots for these advanced
aircraft, as well as pilots in general.
I understand that you are in the middle of competition to
replace the current fleet of the T-37 aircraft that are, on
average, 44 years old with advanced jet trainers.
Given your experience, probably both of you, of flying the
T-37, can you explain the importance to the committee of having
a new trainer as soon as possible? What will it mean to us?
General Goldfein. Yes, sir.
The reality is that as we step into, now, the new fifth
generation airplanes having grown up in the fourth generation
airplanes having flown the F-16 and the F-117, the transition
from training into an operational aircraft, you could actually
train to a number of the skills that would be then immediately
transferrable from a T-38 into an F-16.
To go from a T-38 into an F-22 and an F-35, and to be able
to understand information fusion, and how it all comes together
because actually you could argue that the ``F'' designator for
the F-22 and F-35 is actually old school think. It is no longer
an F-22 and an F-35. It is an FIRB. It does command and
control. It is a fusion machine. It has changed the way we do
business.
So from that perspective, you can see the leap from a 48
year old T-38 that we are currently flying into a fifth
generation airplane. We need to bring that new trainer on so
that we can actually bring some of those skills that are
required to operate fifth generation into the training
business.
Senator Shelby. How crucial is it?
General Goldfein. It is absolutely crucial.
And so for us, as you take a look at how we are bringing on
the new T-X--which is currently in source selection as we
speak--we are trying to bring that on as fast as we possibly
can to be able to get that high level training.
Senator Shelby. And what does that mean ``as fast as you
can''? I know you have to make reliable decisions and a wise
decision. Do you have any timeline?
Secretary Wilson. Sir.
Senator Shelby. Yes, Ma'am.
Secretary Wilson. Senator, the request for proposal went
out in December.
Senator Shelby. Okay.
Secretary Wilson. And the proposals are now in. We are
evaluating those proposals.
Senator Shelby. Okay.
Secretary Wilson. And we expect to make a decision in the
first quarter of fiscal year 2018.
Senator Shelby. Regarding the F-35 basing decisions, you
are very familiar with. Secretary Wilson, we appreciate
recently the process selection group visited the 187th Fighter
Wing in Montgomery, Alabama. I think they had a good site
visit.
Would you provide a current update of the selection
process, where you are?
Secretary Wilson. Senator, we have what is called a
strategic basing process. We set criteria and we go out and
narrow that down every time we do a basing decision.
I actually intentionally do not touch that process at all
until they are ready to make a presentation to me and the Chief
on their evaluation of the bases and the options. I do that
intentionally.
I think that it is important for the decision to be made
based on the criteria that we briefed to you all, and to be
very transparent, and analytical about it. And then make that
decision based on the needs of the service and the country with
no thumbs on the scale.
So I actually do not even look until they are ready to
brief.
Senator Shelby. Space launch reliability, both of you are
very familiar with all of this.
I believe that maintaining our access to space while
quickly and safely reducing our reliance on Russian-made rocket
engines has been a priority of this committee working with the
Air Force.
I know the Air Force shares that goal. I believe we should
avoid and not repeat the mistakes of the late 1980's and 1990's
when multiple launch failures cost the U.S. taxpayer over $3
billion, as well as the benefits of three national security
satellites including a critical communications satellite that
was not replaced for 11 years.
Secretary Wilson, as you looked at the ways that our space
infrastructure enhances our war fighting capabilities, can you
describe the importance of launch schedule reliability?
Secretary Wilson. Senator, in the 1990's, we had a terrible
situation where we were basically losing our access to space
because a commercial provider and the commercial system just
were not there.
We now have the Falcon 9, which is the SpaceX craft which
is certified. Of course, ULA Vulcan is also certified. We are
in the process of certifying the Falcon Heavy. We have Orbital
ATK with its next generation rocket. So competition has helped
to reduce the cost.
In this budget, there are three additional launches that we
fund, and we have had competition for the last two GPS
satellite launches, and there is one more award that we expect
to make here this summer.
So we are in a much better place than we were in the
1990's. I think all of us are cautious about it. There is a lot
of innovation going on out there in the private sector. It is
very interesting to us, but we are also cautious that we need
to keep this for the long term.
Senator Shelby. This committee has provided accelerated
funding, millions for several years, to assist the Air Force in
developing an engine to replace the Russian-made RD-180.
Where are we there? I know you cannot push developments too
fast sometimes, but are we making progress, General? Do you
want to?
General Goldfein. Yes, sir.
So the direction we received from Congress was actually to
do three things through a transition period.
First was to ensure that we maintained assured access to
space for all of our payloads and all of the orbits that we
need to service.
The second directive was that we were told to emerge at the
end of a transition period with at least two domestic launch
service providers.
And the third directive that we heard loud and clear was as
soon as possible get off the RD-180 engine.
So we are in that transition period now and on track to be
able to achieve what Congress told us to do in 2022. So we are
actually not in the business of building a rocket engine to
replace the RD-180. What we are in the business of doing is to
work to procure launch services.
And so right now, we are actually seeing quite a few
successes based on the competitive market between the United
Launch Alliance, which as the Secretary said, was stood up
based on coming out of the 1990's and a pretty tragic period in
the space business.
Senator Shelby. Are you talking about another 2 years, or 3
years, or what?
General Goldfein. Yes, sir. About another 2 to 3 years.
Senator Shelby. You think you will get there, do you not?
General Goldfein. Right, now, we are on track to get there.
Senator Shelby. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Cochran. Thank you, Senator. The time of the
Senator has expired.
May I recognize the distinguished senator from Kansas? Mr.
Moran.
KC-46A
Senator Moran. Chairman, thank you very much.
Secretary Wilson, welcome to your debut appearance before
our subcommittee. Senator Blunt and I were thinking back to
you, and I, and he being classmates. And we reached a quick
conclusion that you are smarter than either one of us, and a
star in our class, and have led a great life in public service.
We are honored to have you here in front of our committee and
to be the Secretary of the Air Force.
Let me direct your attention, Madam Secretary, to the KC-
46A. Leadership at McConnell tells me that they will be ready
for the arrival of the tanker later this year. They are nearing
completion, if not already complete, of the MILCON investment
that was made to prepare for the arrival of the tankers. An
investment totaling $277.5 million since the decision was made.
Unfortunately, there have been notable delays in the
development of the KC-46A, but I understand we are getting
closer to determining a final delivery date.
I wondered if you could tell me what that is?
Secretary Wilson. Thank you, Senator.
We just did a schedule review with the contractor. They
still believe that they are going to be able to deliver the
airplane in December, which is a couple of months later than
when we base-lined this program, but they still think they can
do it in December.
The Air Force thinks that is pretty ambitious and it is all
about the test schedule for FAA certification. That does not
always go quite as quickly as, perhaps, they have on their
schedule. But the good news is that it is about the test
schedule. It is not about production.
So once the airplane is certified as safe by the FAA, it is
not as though there is a huge projection or technology problem.
It is really about tests and satisfying the FAA airworthiness
certification.
We think that it may be into the spring or early next year,
and it all depends on the FAA's certification testing timeline.
We probably will know late this summer whether they are on
track with testing or not, and whether they are meeting the
timelines that they have in their own schedule.
LEVERAGING EXISTING ASSETS: CYBER TEAMS
Senator Moran. Thank you very much. I reiterate my
invitation for you to join us in Wichita when that arrival
occurs.
Let me also highlight at McConnell, to you, General
Goldfein the 184th Intelligence Wing. You talk a lot about
cyber and I think, very appropriately, it is a huge priority.
We have an asset, the Kansas National Guard 184th
Intelligence Wing. It is part of the Wing that is the 177th
Aggressor Squadron. It is a Red Teaming threat simulation and
it is the only NSA certified Red Team in the Reserve component.
My question, we have had this conversation before as well,
but I would ask you, as you develop the 39 cyber teams, how
does the Air Force intend to leverage the existing assets? Are
you considering co-locating active and reserve components?
General Goldfein. Yes, sir. And we actually already are. If
you take a look at the make up of the cyber mission teams as we
grow to the 39 teams, several of those teams are actually Guard
and Reserve.
What is interesting and I learned this when I was an Air
Component Commander Forward, that some of the best intelligence
analysis that I got as a Commander Forward actually came from
my Air National Guard units.
Because what I found was that they were not moving from
location to location which is typical for an active duty. They
were in the same location and they were able to focus on the
same area. And so the quality of the intelligence they were
able to provide was significant.
And so, we have leveraged that very clearly as we built up
the cyber mission teams and the cyber protection teams, and you
will see them scattered throughout as we go forward.
Senator Moran. Thank you for that answer.
SCORPION JET
My final question, in the time I have allotted, is you are
both familiar with the Scorpion, the low cost, light attack
platform that the Air Force is currently conducting an
airworthiness assessment for, and it is also participating in
the upcoming Light Attack Capabilities Experimentation Campaign
that you are conducting. I was recently in the backseat of a
Scorpion across the skies of Kansas.
It is my hope that this Experimentation Campaign will yield
a similar success that exercises such as Combat Dragon II for
SOCOM, as well as CENTCOM's Proof of Concept deployment, reaped
the benefits to the special operators and was a cost saving
success in Iraq as well.
The platform can offer the Air Force, as well as the rest
of the Department of Defense, significant cost savings in
modernizing our forces with weapon systems that give us
critical defense superiority that we need to maintain.
COMBAT DRAGON II EXERCISES
My question, General Goldfein, is you have been supportive
of this platform in the past, seeing the benefits to the war
fighter and to the taxpayer.
Can you explain your observations from the Combat Dragon II
exercises? And, what else might you need to move the Air Force
in procuring this light attack jet?
General Goldfein. Yes, thanks, sir.
Actually, I was quite involved in both Combat Dragon I and
Combat Dragon II.
The idea behind this experiment that we are doing, actually
is taking the authorities that we have been given, the
acquisition authorities, and doing more experimentation, so we
can actually speed up the way we look at potential acquisition.
But it is important to know that this experiment is
actually not a contest. This is an experiment where we have
gone to industry and said, ``Show us what you have. Let us see
what you have that is commercial, off the shelf that is shovel
ready that we can put into the fight today. Let us take a look
at it and see whether there is something there.''
As important to me as the hardware that we are looking at
is a parallel discussion that we are having about a network
that is coalition friendly that we can use, that we can
actually attach these various platforms to, so that we can
actually increase the speed of operations going forward.
So I am pretty excited about the experiment. I am going to
go out there as well and fly in some of the aircraft. We are
doing this, this summer in New Mexico. I am looking forward to
seeing what industry has.
Senator Moran. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Cochran. The time of the Senator has expired.
The Chair is undecided about whom to recognize next. We
have the distinguished Senator from Montana and the
distinguished Senator from Missouri.
Who seeks recognition?
Senator Tester. I would, if I could. Senator Blunt, I was
here actually before anybody else was here besides Senator
Shelby, if I could. So thank you.
Senator Cochran. The Senator is recognized.
Senator Tester. I appreciate it, Chairman.
Senator Cochran. Up to 5 minutes.
Senator Tester. Thank you, very much and thank you, Senator
Blunt.
ASSETS IN SYRIA
First of all, it is great to have you both here. Thank you.
Thank you for your service, it goes without saying.
General Goldfein, we have seen what is going on in Syria
and it does not look like things are getting better there. It
looks like it is getting worse.
Could you give me an idea of what kind of assets are
deployed there and what is our current role?
General Goldfein. We actually have six wings, 261 aircraft
that are currently deployed and engaged in the fight, which is
fairly significant. Just to put it in perspective, General
Harrigian commands the twelfth largest Air Force in the world.
Senator Tester. Yes.
General Goldfein. Going forward and we are doing everything
from command and control, to personnel recovery, to help the
tankers that are going on. About 115 missions a day that we are
dropping ordinance on the enemy.
SITUATION IN SYRIA
Senator Tester. And so yesterday, a Navy pilot shot down a
Syrian fighter and yesterday the Russian Government responded
by saying that the U.S. and coalition jets in Syrian airspace
would be presumed as targets.
This is for either one of you. What is being done to
deescalate the situation?
General Goldfein. Right now, this is obviously being
handled in diplomatic lanes, so a couple of levels.
First of all, I know Secretary Tillerson is heavily engaged
in working this diplomatically with the Russians.
Senator Tester. Okay.
General Goldfein. General Dunford has an open line that he
continually talks to his counterpart, General Gerasimov, and
they talk routinely.
Then at the CAOC (Combined Air and Space Operations
Center), at the operations center where Lieutenant General
Harrigian is, there is actually a line that we have with the
Russians that is a de-confliction line, and that line remains
open, and we remain in conversation with them.
So our hope, of course, is that we return to a little bit
better sense of normalcy and we continue to keep the dialogue
open.
Senator Tester. Well, thank you for that. One of the things
that truly does scare me about what goes on in this world right
now is that Putin is a bad guy. And I am being generous with
that statement.
What has transpired with the actions with NATO (North
Atlantic Treaty Organization) and other of our allies is, I
think we have, our President has at least empowered him. I
think that is very, very dangerous and I think we are seeing
the fruits of that right now. It is up to you guys to try to
fix it. And so, I appreciate your work.
AUDIT READINESS
The Air Force is audit-ready today. Is it or is it close?
Where are we at?
Secretary Wilson. Senator, about 50 percent of our
squadrons are ready for all of the missions assigned to them.
Senator Tester. Okay. The DOD's top financial advisor said
that the entire Defense Department would be ready for an audit
in September and the Air Force is close to that?
Secretary Wilson. Senator, we are ready to move from
preseason to the real season.
But I think the other thing is that our first time through
this and our second and third. Most of you who have ever dealt
with audits know that we are going to have audit findings.
Senator Tester. That is right.
Secretary Wilson. That is the point is that you have the
audit findings and then you continually get better and address
those things.
Senator Tester. I just want to say this. Thank you.
The fact that the Defense Department has not been audited
in God knows how long, and the fact that you have not been
audited, and the fact that you are in a position now to get
audited. Thank you.
Whoever is responsible for that needs big kudos because we
cannot do oversight if we do not have audits, quite frankly and
so, thanks.
HUEY REPLACEMENT
I want to talk a little bit about the Huey replacement as
it applies to Malmstrom Air Force Base. We talked about this
when you were in my office, Madam Secretary. Is it going to
happen by 2020?
Secretary Wilson. Senator, this budget has about $108
million for the beginning of the competition for replacing the
UH-1N Huey. We expect it to be fielded in 2020-2021.
Senator Tester. Is there anything we can do to expedite it
to 2019? This is kind of like a negotiation. Okay?
Secretary Wilson. Senator, here is the reality.
Senator Tester. Yes.
Secretary Wilson. The Air Force went out to look at whether
we could buy a helicopter off of any of the lines that are
currently producing helicopters for other things.
Every single one of the manufacturers said, ``Look. To meet
all your requirements, we would have to do a modification.''
Senator Tester. Right.
Secretary Wilson. All of the modifications were slightly
different for each company.
Senator Tester. Okay.
Secretary Wilson. So we really did have to step back and do
a competitive request for proposal.
Senator Tester. Okay.
Secretary Wilson. And we are in the midst of that now.
Senator Tester. Right now, the Montana National Guard has
C-130 mission. They do their training in Washington State. We
have the best airspace in the country--some would argue with me
on that--right east of Great Falls, Montana Malmstrom Air Force
Base.
Is there any possibility of moving that training mission,
not only for the Montana Air Guard, but for everybody to that
incredible airspace that we have?
General Goldfein. Sir, we will definitely take a look at
it. I will tell you, when it comes to restoring the runway at
Malmstrom.
Senator Tester. Yes.
General Goldfein. It is something that we will actually
take a look at here. Here is the challenge we face on that.
Senator Tester. Yes.
General Goldfein. Just so I am very clear and that is we,
in this budget based on all the priorities that we have had to
try to meet, we were able to get to about a 90-year recap rate
on facilities that we built for about 50 years.
Senator Tester. Yes, I got you.
General Goldfein. So our challenge is we look at the
infrastructure and where we put infrastructure investment.
Senator Tester. Yes.
General Goldfein. I cannot look you in the eye and tell you
that Malmstrom restoring that runway is going to make the cut,
but we will definitely look at it.
Senator Tester. I would not want you to, but thank you very
much.
General Goldfein. Sir, can I?
Senator Cochran. The time of the Senator has expired.
The Senator from Missouri is recognized.
Senator Blunt. Thank you, Chairman.
I was just about to say the advantage of going last is you
have whatever time the chairman will give you, but I hate it
that that last question did not get answered.
Maybe we can figure out how to get that in my questions,
but certainly it can be submitted for the record and we will
all look at that.
SITUATION IN QATAR
I have three questions I am going to try to get to pretty
quickly.
And again, Secretary Wilson, I will join Senator Moran in
saying how glad we are to see you here and of course, glad also
to see the General here.
For either one of you that wants to deal with this. I am
sure you have been following this situation in Qatar.
Four of our regional allies, our partners in the region,
have changed their relationship over concerns about a number of
issues including Qatar's relations with Iran, support of the
Muslim Brotherhood, and financing extremists, and their stated
reasons to do what they have done. Clearly the airbase is very
important to us and very important in the current fight against
ISIS.
Do you have concerns about our ability to continue to use
that airbase to maintain that base to do whatever we need to do
to continue to have access there?
Secretary, I want you to start.
Secretary Wilson. Senator, the airbase, Al Udeid Air Base
is fully operational and operations continue out of it as
normal.
The resolution in the Gulf Cooperation Council, that effort
is being, of course, led by the Secretary of State as a
diplomatic effort.
Senator Blunt. General.
General Goldfein. Yes, sir.
I actually lived at Al Udeid Air Base from 2011 to 2013 as
the Commander there.
Senator Blunt. Yes.
General Goldfein. So I know the region quite well.
To say it does not concern us, we are concerned and we are
staying closely plugged in.
I will tell you that I talk to the Commander there
routinely, and so far there has been no impact on our
operations on the base or for our families who live off base.
Secretary Tillerson, I know, is working this extremely hard and
the Secretary of Defense is working this as well.
So we have not seen any impact on our operations and right
now we are not projecting any.
Senator Blunt. Well, thank you for that.
PROPERTY TRANSFER
Senator Cochran heard me ask this same question to
Secretary Mattis the other day. We are trying to transfer some
property, the NGA (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency)
transfer in the city of St. Louis.
I am sympathetic with the fact that up until the actual
time of transfer, everybody thought that transfer was going to
be with either the Corps or the Army. And then suddenly it was
determined, for reasons we accepted at the time, that the Air
Force was the best future owner of that property for National
Geospatial West.
I think we have missed two deadlines on this already. It
was supposed to be done in April and then it was supposed to be
done in May. I am hoping we are not going to miss a third
deadline.
I am told that the Air Force has attorneys working round
the clock on this. I am doubtful that that is the case, but
however many attorneys need to work on this to get it done.
Can we get that done this month?
Secretary Wilson. Senator, I pulsed the system to get some
facts for you on this one.
The Air Force has sent back to the City and to the holding
company that is involved in the environmental cleanup of the
site of a signature ready agreement. It usually does take about
9 to 12 months to do a property transfer like this particularly
when there is some environmental remediation that has to be
done before the actual transfer. So there are actually two
steps to this transfer.
I think the final issues are apparently the indemnification
for contamination. And in the agreement that we signed in
January, the Air Force signed with the City, it was
indemnification for any contamination that was there before we
take over the site.
That has apparently become something of an issue. I think
we may need to figure out a way to resolve that and give some
kind of a term in place there because it now appears to be a
different situation from the City's point of view.
This is a site that, as you know, is a brownfield site. It
used to have a battery manufacturer there, and a junkyard, and
a drycleaner, and those kinds of things. And the Air Force has
to operate under Federal rules for environmental protection. So
we just want to make sure that we get that clarified upfront.
Senator Blunt. Well, I think that the reason this normally
can be done in 6 to 12 months is we had a year to talk to the
Government about this, and the standard was clearly understood
until the owner was determined to be a different owner.
I think this is a problem that you can work out. This is a
substantial project. If we lose a year on it because we cannot
get this one thing worked out in the last 90 days, I would be
very disappointed.
Secretary Wilson. Senator, I am aware of the issue, and I
want to get it done, and get moving on it. It is an important
capability for the country.
When the Army said they did not want to do it, the Air
Force did step in, in December and we got the letter of intent
in January trying to work these things out with our
installations and environment folks, and be good stewards.
But I think we can probably work this one out and we will
just kind of keep the attention on it.
Senator Blunt. Well, sooner is better than later.
Senator Cochran. The Senator's time has expired.
Senator Blunt. Thank you, Chairman.
Senator Cochran. The Chair recognizes the distinguished
Senator from Montana, Mr. Daines.
Senator Daines. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Secretary Wilson, General Goldfein, thank you both for
appearing before this committee this morning.
The Air Force prides itself on being the world's preeminent
force in air, space, and cyberspace. To claim such a bold title
requires a robust capacity to deliver.
In my home State of Montana, we are very proud to
substantiate that claim with one-third of our Nation's ICBM's
(intercontinental ballistic missile) operated by the men and
women of the 341st Missile Wing.
This critical global strike mission is supported daily by
the professionals of the 819th RED HORSE Squadron at Malmstrom
Air Force Base and complemented by the 120th Airlift Wing of
the Montana National Guard.
We are also grateful that we host most of the airspace over
the 18 million acre Powder River Training Complex, which
provides large scale exercise training for the B-1 Lancers of
the 38th Bomb Wing. When I quote numbers like 18 million acres,
everybody here will be impressed, but perhaps Senator
Murkowski, who would say, ``Well, then there is Alaska.''
As the son of a Marine, I value the service of every man
and woman who serves our Nation's flag, and it is a great honor
for me to represent them here in Congress.
Secretary Wilson, I invite you to join me on a visit to
Malmstrom at some point, sooner being better, to see firsthand
truly the incredible work these men and women do to keep us
safe.
UH-1 REPLACEMENT
Secretary Wilson, as you and I have discussed, I am
concerned by the ongoing delays to replace the Vietnam-era UH-
1N helicopters that support our ICBM security forces.
In May, Congress appropriated $75 million to expedite a
suitable replacement, yet under the current acquisition
strategy, it looks like our airmen will not receive their first
aircraft now until 2021.
Secretary Wilson, can you assure me that this effort will
have the utmost sense of urgency moving forward and that you
will commit to keep me apprised of the UH-1 replacement as it
moves forward?
Secretary Wilson. Senator, this budget that we have
proposed this year has about $108 million for the UH-1
replacement.
The initial strategy that the Air Force pursued was to try
to go out and tag on an order to an existing line of helicopter
production. We went in to all of the providers of helicopters
in the United States. They each said that they did not have
something that met all of the requirements. Each one would have
to have some modification and every one was different as far as
the modifications went.
So we had to step back, and do a full and open competition,
which we are in the midst of now. But our intention is to field
those replacements for the UH-1 both for the fleet in
supporting the nuclear mission, but also the UH-1's Air Force
wide and to do that by 2020 and 2021.
Senator Daines. Thank you for the update. We will stay in
contact. Appreciate it.
In addition to the UH-1, the modernization of our aging
Minuteman III missile, which has been in service for almost 50
years, and the supporting infrastructure has to be a top
priority.
I am pleased the President's budget makes important
investments in these areas. In fact, some military construction
efforts at Malmstrom in Great Falls are literally underway as
we speak.
GROUND-BASED STRATEGIC DETERRENT
My question, Secretary Wilson, will you commit to keep me
apprised of the developments of the Ground-Based Strategic
Deterrent?
Secretary Wilson. Senator, we certainly will, and we are
committed to upgrading and modernizing the ground-based nuclear
deterrents, and I might ask the Chief to comment on this one as
well.
General Goldfein. Yes, sir.
The reality is that we built this system in the 1960's. We
upgraded it one time in the 1980's. This is the first time now
we are going back.
When you think about it, it is more than just the missile;
it is the entire system. It is the launch control facilities.
It is the command and control that goes into it.
As I said in my opening statement, on our worst day as a
Nation, we have got to ensure that the Commander-in-Chief is
where he needs to be and he is connected to a ready force.
It is important just for perspective to take a look at
this. Most people do not know what this is. This is an 8\1/2\
inch floppy disk and this is being used today to do nuclear
command and control.
So, it is absolutely time to upgrade and we appreciate your
support to do so.
Senator Daines. Yes, thank you.
Sometimes it is really helpful to get out and get up close
to the current infrastructure and the needs for modernization.
I spent time there certainly in Montana with the airman. It is
so old that the cyber risk is not quite as great because it is
not connected.
You drive by Alpha-06 there, the ace-in-the-hole as they
called it, that President Kennedy used in the Cuban Missile
Crisis. You drive right by there when you leave Great Falls,
Montana heading out towards where a lot of our silos are. Just
a reminder of how old all this is. It was Kennedy-Khrushchev
days when we were standing up our first missiles out there in
Montana.
Well, I am out of time. Thank you. We will submit some more
questions for the record.
But thank you again for your service and your very
thoughtful and bold leadership in these troubled times in the
world.
Thank you.
Senator Cochran. The time of the Senator has expired.
The distinguished Senator from Alaska is recognized.
Senator Murkowski. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you both for your leadership.
I would also like to give a little shout out. Sitting
behind General Goldfein is Major General James Martin. At one
time, General Martin was known as Colonel Martin. He was
Commander of the 354th Mission Support Group at Eielson. I
understand retirement is in the works, but thank you for your
service as well.
It is just a reminder that the path to Air Force greatness
often runs straight through Alaska and we appreciate that.
EIELSON BEDDOWN OF F-35A
General Goldfein, I would like to ask a question about the
Eielson beddown of the two squadrons of F-35A aircraft that are
anticipated in the 2021 timeframe. I am frequently asked
whether or not the funds that we are appropriating in a
particular year are going to fund the F-35's that are headed to
Eielson.
Can you give me any insight into how the dollars we
appropriate for the F-35 in the 2017 dollars and the 2018
dollars, will we see those going towards Eielson? And can you
comment on whether or not the purchase of any additional F-35's
as proposed in the unfunded priority list, whether perhaps they
also will benefit the Eielson beddown?
General Goldfein. Yes, Ma'am.
When you take a look at our MILCON, we actually set up in
three priorities. First priority, we funded is combatant
commander requirements, and for those combatant commanders who
were the executive agent, we had to get to their requirements.
Second priority for us was new mission beddown. So for F-
35, KC-46 we put that money in the program to move forward.
Our third priority was getting at our worst particular
facilities going forward.
Just to give you a sense at Eielson, we have a weapons
intel facility that is funded, a fuel truck shelter, a
satellite dining facility that is all coming in, a conventional
munitions facility. All those are on track.
Senator Murkowski. Good.
General Goldfein. And so right now, we are on glide path to
be able to meet that 2020 beddown for bringing the F-35's back.
If we were able to get more F-35's in the unfunded list as
required, we would look at where we would spread those relative
to getting the greatest combat capability, the fastest for the
force.
HOUSING AT EIELSON
Senator Murkowski. Got it. Well, I appreciate that.
There are oftentimes little rumors out there, little
rumbles that things might be slowed down. And of course, this
causes concerns from a lot of different levels.
I met yesterday with several Alaskan leaders that are
focused on how we will meet the needs for housing with the
additional activity there at Eielson. The concern that when you
are looking for some 850 new housing units to house more than
the 3,000 service members and their dependents that we are
expected to see.
The community wants to get moving. They need to formulate a
strategy for getting those units constructed. That, of course,
requires investment.
One concern that has been expressed to me is that private
investors will be reluctant to build if they think that they
may face future competition from the construction of additional
privatized housing there on Eielson.
So again, we had a pretty lengthy meeting yesterday. Their
very specific ask was an opportunity for the local officials to
sit down with the Air Force folks, the housing privatization
folks, to determine whether or not there can be commitments
made to the private investor side.
Secretary Wilson. Senator, I am very happy to sit down with
the local community.
General Martin and I were talking in the car on the way
over here. One of the wonderful things about our bases that are
in communities that are smaller is the tremendous support that
we get from the community and the partnership that exists
there. It is true at Eielson. It is true at a lot of our other
bases that are in rural America.
It really is a partnership and I am very happy to sit down.
Senator Murkowski. Well, I would appreciate that. I know
that they would. We would certainly welcome you to Alaska. Love
to host you there in the near future.
As Senator Daines mentioned, we have some pretty awesome
training area to show off. I think you know that, but seeing it
for yourself firsthand is greatly appreciated.
Again, thank you both for your leadership and we look
forward to working with you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Cochran. Thank you very much.
I understand that a Senator is on his way to the hearing
room. Awaiting his arrival, let me ask this question of
Secretary Wilson and General Goldfein.
LEVEL OF MUNITIONS
The Air Force continues to expend large amounts of
munitions in training and operations all over the world. Does
this budget request adequately replenish your inventory levels?
General Goldfein. Yes, you captured it exactly right. We
are dropping an incredible number of munitions; over 80,000
munitions just since 2014 just to put it in perspective.
We are working with industry and what you will see in this
budget is we have actually funded to the maximum capacity that
industry can produce in our preferred munitions that we are
using today in the fight and to keep those stockpiles at the
right level. We move munitions from other areas to ensure that
we can continue the fight at the pace that we require.
There is an aggressive approach that we have right now with
industry to see what they can increase in terms of their
capacity because right now, we are not replenishing at the rate
that we are actually dropping munitions.
So we are continuing to manage it. We are able to keep the
pace on the enemy where we need to, but this is something that
this budget starts to get at. And then we are continuing to
work on it for the future.
Secretary Wilson. Senator, the only thing I would add is
that it is something that we are working very closely with our
industry partners on. It is one of the reasons why sequester,
continuing resolutions, and just getting to budget stability
matters.
If you are a munitions manufacturer, what really matters is
that stable production, just steady production over time, and
the surges and gaps are a real problem.
And so it is one of the things that can help us
tremendously is not only moving beyond the Budget Control Act,
but getting some predictability and stability.
Senator Cochran. The Senator from New Mexico, Mr. Udall.
TRAINING MISSION AT HOLLOMAN
Senator Udall. Thank you very much, Chairman Cochran.
Really appreciate being here with you today.
Always it is great to see Secretary Wilson. I believe this
is the first time she is before our committee. And so, welcome
and also to your Chief of Staff, General Goldfein.
Secretary Wilson, we are experiencing a major pilot
shortfall in the Air Force. Not only do we need more pilots in
the training pipeline, but we also need to do a better job
retaining the pilots that we have.
Given the struggle to train and retain pilots, do you agree
that the additional F-16's for the growing training mission at
Holloman can be a key part of the solution to this issue?
Secretary Wilson. Senator, the increase in training at
Holloman, at this point, is temporary. We would do a strategic
basing review for any permanent placement of a training unit.
But we expect those aircraft, the F-16s, to be at Holloman
in late summer of this year.
Chief, do you want to add anything to that?
General Goldfein. Well, sir, I just want to say, having
been the Wing Commander at Holloman and knowing not only the
great support of the community there, but also the incredible
airspace that we enjoy there. Holloman was an obvious choice to
be able to get at increasing production as fast as we possibly
could.
It not only had the capacity, but the three runways there,
the range space, all the things that we had available allowed
us to move very quickly.
But as the Secretary said, this is the interim solution and
then we will go through a new process with the Secretary on a
final solution. But it is very helpful and we appreciate the
support Holloman gives us every day.
Senator Udall. Well, thank you very much for that.
Just a couple of final observations, as the Air Force works
on a final basing decision, first I think that the training
pipeline would be negatively impacted if hose F-16s were then
to be suddenly moved again yet to another location.
Second, I would stress the importance of de-conflicting
airspace with Wind Sands Missile Range and working with the
Army to ensure that the Air Force has access to this airspace
as needed for training. Good progress has really been made and
I hope the Air Force and Army continue to make this a priority.
IMPORTANCE OF R&D AND PRODUCTION
In an interview with ``Defense News,'' you stated that
research and development would be a priority when you took the
reigns at the Air Force and that you are no stranger to the
importance of the Air Force research labs.
In your opinion, how important is it that we find ways to
rapidly move technology from R and D to production, but while
also improving tech transfer opportunities in the private
sector? What ways does your proposed budget support R and D
efforts? And how can the committee work to increase tech
transfer opportunities with the Air Force?
Secretary Wilson. Senator, this budget does increase
research and development, but I would have to say that it is
more on the development end. So it is testing actual systems.
I think long term, we need to look at the early stage
research for path breaking technologies. That is not only at
our laboratories, but at other national laboratories, and also
at universities, and in industry.
Some of the path breaking innovations that we are
benefitting from today were not developed by Air Force research
laboratories. In fact, stealth, I think, came to us initially
from industry.
So there are a lot of different ways that innovation can
spin on to the Air Force in addition to spinning out from the
Air Force.
I think that takes a real commitment to partnerships and
real effort to identify the most important research vectors.
Over the next year, I think we are going to be digging into
that in a serious way.
Senator Udall. Great.
The Air Force Research Lab at Kirtland Air Force Base also
plays an important role monitoring our Nation's space assets, a
domain that is increasingly competitive and is definitely
contested.
But do you agree that funding assets such as the Starfire
Optical Range at Kirtland improve our ability to protect our
assets? While some information may be classified, can you tell
the committee how our space situational awareness capabilities
compare to that of our near-peer competitors Russia and China?
I recently saw an article my staff gave me that you wrote
on Air Force in space.
Secretary Wilson. Sir, the Starfire Optical Range does
provide capability as part of a whole system of space
situational awareness. One of the things that is really
changing is----
The Air Force has always been the service that has kept a
catalog for the world for commercial providers of satellite
services as well as all of the military services of what is up
there and what orbit it is on.
But it is no longer good enough to just keep a catalog. We
need near real time situational awareness of where things are,
and where they are moving to, and very clear characterization
of what the capabilities are. While we have good situational
awareness, this budget advances that even further.
I would also say, though, that we expect space to be a
contested domain. Our adversaries are moving forward very
quickly and they see that we are vulnerable in space. We need
to anticipate that any future conflict will involve conflict in
space.
Chief, is there anything you want to add to that?
General Goldfein. No, just to offer to you that I would
love the opportunity in a closed session, or perhaps in a
classified session, to brief you, or any of the members of this
committee, on what our adversaries are doing to invest in
taking away our advantages. And it is eye opening.
Senator Udall [presiding]. Well that, I think, would be a
very, very helpful briefing. I will talk to the chairman and
the ranking member and see if we cannot do that. We really
appreciate that offer.
AIRCRAFT FOR AIR NATIONAL GUARD
Just one final question, General Goldfein. I know you agree
that the Guard plays a vital role in defending the homeland.
One of their capstone principles is every State has a unit
equipped flying mission.
However, the New Mexico Air Guard currently does not own
aircraft. General Lengyel, Chief of the National Guard Bureau,
responded that the plan to ensure that New Mexico will be unit
equipped with a suitable and viable mission is not currently
budgeted.
I think there are two options to consider to solve this
problem and avoid the budget issues.
First, the 150th Special Operations Wing has been a major
contributor to the CV-22 mission at Kirtland. Assigning the CV-
22 mission to the ANG (Air National Guard) would be a no-cost
option to meeting the capstone principle while also providing
stability and long term experience.
There is another opportunity at Holloman Air Force Base
establishing an active association with the F-16 FTU allows the
Air Guard to own the aircraft while also growing the training
pipeline in helping to solve the major pilot shortfall the Air
Force is experiencing.
Secretary Wilson and General Goldfein, will the Air Force
look at the viability of allowing the 150th to take on one of
these missions and provide me with the details when you have
completed your assessment?
General Goldfein. Sir, we will absolutely take a look at
that and get back to you.
If I could, just return to an important point that the
Secretary made and has been a central theme throughout, which
is the fact that this Air Force is just far too small for what
the Nation requires across the entire active Guard and Reserve.
And by the way, sir, I would tell you that we could not
accomplish the missions that we are accomplishing today without
the Air National Guard. I mean, you walk into a C-17 and you
walk into the cockpit and ask, ``Who is active? Who is Guard
and Reserve?'' And very often all three hands go up. We are
that integrated.
So if you take a look at the size of the Air Force today
based on the missions that we are responsible for, we have got
to grow.
Then just to put a fine point on a comment that Chairman
Dunford made to this committee under his testimony that I
absolutely support as a Joint Chief.
We enjoy a competitive advantage today against our
adversaries. But on our current path, as he stated, in 5 years
we will not have that competitive advantage that we enjoy
today.
So getting beyond sequester and getting back into stable
budgets are absolutely essential for this Air Force if we are
going to do the missions that we are required to perform to the
level that the Nation expects.
Senator Udall. Madam Secretary, anything additional on
that?
Secretary Wilson. Senator, the only thing I would add would
be something about what we call concurrent fielding. The Air
Force always, the Guard has been one of the strongest elements
of the Air Force, and the Reserve as well because they are so
much more experienced.
As you well know, I have kind of a close affiliation and
affection for the TACO's. We would all like to see them have a
flying mission again. The reality is the budget that we have
and the size of the force we have does not support it and we
need to fix it.
Senator Udall. Yes, and thank you both for your comments,
and we really look forward to working with you. We appreciate
your testimony today.
Are there any further questions from the panel?
I guess there are not.
If there are no further questions, we would thank our
witnesses for their testimony and continued assistance. We are
grateful for your service and look forward to continuing a
dialogue throughout the fiscal year 2018 appropriations
process.
ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE QUESTIONS
Senators may submit additional questions and we will
request you to respond to them within a reasonable time. We
have your agreement on that, I hope.
[The following questions were not asked at the hearing, but
were submitted to the Department for response subsequent to the
hearing:]
Questions Submitted to Hon. Dr. Heather Wilson
Question Submitted by Senator Susan M. Collins
Question. How quickly could the Air Force ramp up production to 60
F-35A's per year, and eventually greater numbers of aircraft per year,
to recapitalize its aging fighter fleet and field the number of F-35's
needed to address current and future threats?
Answer. If the Air Force receives additional funding for 14 F-35As
as requested in our unfunded priorities list, the Air Force would ramp
up production to 60 F-35As per year beginning in fiscal year 2018.
______
Questions Submitted by Senator Roy Blunt
Question. Secretary Wilson and General Goldfein, you are well
versed in the ongoing discussions regarding the future of the A-10 and
General Goldfein, we have previously discussed this issue a few times.
I am proud to represent the men and women of the 442nd Fighter Wing at
Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. It is a positive step to see that
the Air Force's budget request keeps the A-10 flying for the next 5
years. However, I am worried that without a sustained commitment to
maintenance issues, the Air Force will begin to retire A-10s long
before we have enough aircraft to meet the bare minimum of fighter
squadrons in the force. Specifically, I am worried about a lack of
commitment to ensure the A-10 has new wings. I have read that the Air
Force has current funding plans to replace the wings of 173 of the 283
A-10s, which means that 110 A-10s will still need new wings. As you
know, the Air Force's fiscal year 2018 unfunded list requests a little
over $100 million for rewinging efforts. I believe that previous
efforts to buy new wings for A-10s have cost roughly $5 million. Thus,
I was surprised to see that the Air Force says that the $100 million
request will only fund new wings for 4 A-10s. Can you explain the
difference? Can you please describe the Air Force's plans to rewing the
A-10?
Answer. The amount of the current fiscal year 2018 President's
Budget request for A-10 Wings is comparable to the first article and
low rate initial production expenditures for the original A-10 Wing
Replacement Program. The cost of pre-production articles is significant
due to the complexity of the A-10 wing design, the considerable
manufacturing infrastructure required, along with a large supplier base
and extended lead times (3+ years from contract award to First Article
delivery). As full rate production accelerates, the high cost of pre-
production articles is shared across increasing numbers of wings
driving the average cost down significantly. If appropriated, we plan
to use the $103 million requested in the fiscal year 2018 Unfunded
Priorities List to initiate a new wing acquisition program. The new
program will secure the ability to procure additional A-10 wings in the
future. After the UPL funding is received, it would take approximately
1 year to competitively award the new contract, with delivery of the
first wing as early as fiscal year 2022. This preserves the ability to
re-wing aircraft should the decision be made to retain the A-10 beyond
the future years defense program, which will be informed by the fiscal
year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act required comparison
testing between the A-10 and F-35 in fiscal year 2021.
Question. Secretary Wilson, Portable Doppler Radar Systems allow
Air Force weather operators to better forecast severe local storms and
mission-limiting wind conditions for forward deployed operations and
training. This is a very powerful and efficient system, but I have
concerns that with so many ongoing sustained, forward operations over
the last several years that many of these systems may need to be
recapitalized or additional systems deployed to keep up with tempo and
demand. The fiscal year 2018 budget request under Other Procurement Air
Force, Line 20, Weather Observation Forecast is for $40,116,000. Of
these funds, are any planned for procuring additional Portable Doppler
Radar Systems necessary for forward operations and training? What is
the current requirement for Portable Doppler Radar Systems?
Answer. The Air Force plan is to procure 11 additional Portable
Doppler Radar Systems in fiscal year 2018, at a cost of $8.25 million.
The current requirement for operational Portable Doppler Radar systems
is 41. Twenty systems are currently in service with 11 more
requirements being fulfilled with the fiscal year 2018 purchase leaving
an outstanding requirement for 10 additional systems.
______
Question Submitted by Senator Patty Murray
Question. Secretary Wilson, Washington is very proud that our Air
Force installations and our communities are able to successfully work
through issues as they arise. Recently the community of Airway Heights
was made aware of ground water contamination associated with
firefighting foam used at Fairchild Air Force Base. Of note, leadership
at Fairchild Air Force Base has been communicating in an outstanding
manner with both Airway Heights and Medical Lake, which has been
helpful to local authorities and communities. Airway Heights and other
communities in Washington State, as well as communities around the
country, will be dealing with this groundwater contamination for years
to come and I am worried there are not enough resources allocated to
this problem. Does the Department of the Air Force have the resources
to take care of every affected community and clean up all
contamination?
Answer. Yes for those areas we remain responsible for as we work
with other agencies to respond (e.g. EPA, Center for Disease Control,
etc.). Up to this point, the Air Force has been making trade-offs and
reprioritizing within existing funds to address our PFOS/PFOA issues.
Starting in fiscal year 2019, we will request funding specifically for
these requirements in the base budget. Once exposure is mitigated, we
will address sources of contamination under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act process and
prioritize our actions based on risk.
______
Questions Submitted by Senator Tom Udall
Question. Please provide an update on the ongoing analysis to
determine training requirements for special operations pilots at Cannon
Air Force Base. When will the Air Force release its proposal for
military training routes to the public?
Answer. The 2012 New Mexico Land Grant allowed Cannon Air Force
Base to reorganize the Melrose Range structure to enable additional
special operations training opportunities within the existing range.
This range reorganization, combined with existing military training
routes, existing military operations areas, joint training events at
other locations, and random visual flight rule operations, provides the
27 Special Operations Wing (SOW) the necessary range and airspace
requirements with a few exceptions. Consequently, the necessary
Restricted Airspace needed to facilitate 27 SOW advanced weapons
employment and tactics at Melrose Range will be analyzed in Phase 2 of
the Regional Special Use Airspace Optimization Project (RSOP) beginning
in 2018. RSOP Phase 2 will analyze airspace throughout New Mexico and
parts of Arizona in an effort to optimize Special Use Airspace and
Military Training Routes for all units and missions in the region.
Question. The Air Force has committed to complete the remediation
of the Kirtland Air Force fuel spill. Will you also commit to carrying
out this vital work for the community? Is the project still on
schedule, and what is the estimated date for completing cleanup?
Answer. The Air Force is committed to remediating the Kirtland Air
Force Base (AFB) Bulk Fuels Facility site until cleanup is complete
under Kirtland AFB's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Permit. The project is still on schedule and we continue to program
funding for cleanup and support community outreach efforts. As part of
the cleanup process, the Air Force installed an interim groundwater
measure that is capturing and removing contamination as planned. Three
treatment pilots will begin later this year in the area where the fuel
leak occurred to determine the best path forward to clean up the source
area. Because the project is still in the interim measure phase, it is
not possible to give a firm date on when cleanup will be completed. A
schedule will be developed once the State has approved final remedies
for the groundwater plume and the source area. We will continue to work
with all stakeholders to determine and implement the final remedial
action in accordance with RCRA.
Question. I included report language in the fiscal year 2016 and
2017 Defense Appropriations Bills to promote the development of a cyber
kinetic training capability. The fiscal year 2017 bill lauded the Air
Force's efforts on this front, stating that ``The Committee is
encouraged by current progress to address training shortfalls in the
cyber kinetic combat environment. Particularly, the Committee supports
the Air Force's efforts to identify a training environment where they
can replicate combat conditions and perform simultaneous operations,
cyber-enabled kinetic operations, or physically-enabled cyber
operations. Adversaries continue to develop asymmetric and cyber
capabilities which put U.S. and allied forces at risk. The Committee
encourages developing this training as a priority for the Department of
Defense.'' What are the Air Force's current plans to continue the
development of this capability and how much of a priority is it to
ensure that airmen are prepared to operate in a cyber kinetic
environment? Furthermore, please outline the threats that are driving
the need for a cyber kinetic training capability.
Answer. The Air Force supports operating, securing, and defending
cyberspace as a critical warfighting domain. The Cyber National Mission
Force plans, directs, and synchronizes full-spectrum cyberspace
operations to deter, disrupt, and if necessary, defeat adversary cyber
actors to defend the Nation. The US Cyber Command's Cyber Mission Force
(CMF) is comprised of 133 total teams organized to defend against
strategic cyberattack, support the combatant commands, and operate and
defend DoD Information Networks (DoDIN). By the end of fiscal year
2018, the goal is for the force to grow to nearly 6,200 and for all 133
teams to be fully operational. The Air Force provides 39 of 133 CMF
teams with over 2,600 personnel from the Active and Reserve components
with an operating budget of $912.9 million in fiscal year 2018 and $4.3
billion over the Future Years Defense Program. The increasing severity
and sophistication of the cyber threat to U.S. interests, to include
DoD networks, information, and systems continues as our adversaries,
both State and non-State actors, are becoming ever more sophisticated.
The Department of Defense has the largest network in the world and we
must take aggressive steps to defend its networks, secure its data, and
mitigate risks to DoD missions.
______
Questions Submitted by Senator Brian Schatz
Question. Energy assurance at our Air Force bases in the United
States supports the service's ability to execute operations. More often
than not, bases across the country are tied to old and unreliable
civilian electric grids, and when those grids go down the Air Force's
operations are interrupted. Can you tell me how this budget moves the
ball forward in terms of energy assurance? How are we investing in grid
stability and assured power to protect the Air Force's warfighting
mission?
Answer. By policy, the Air Force considers energy security,
efficiency and capability in requirements identification and budget
development. We favorably consider projects improving energy
resilience. Although the Air Force faces financial challenges in
developing and fielding technological improvements, investments to
enhance the efficiency and resiliency of aircraft platforms and
critical facilities provide significant long-term benefits for the
Nation, and we will continue to pursue them within budget constraints.
Question. The Air Force's fiscal year 2018 budget requests an
increase of $355.69 million for the Long Range Standoff Weapon. I find
this request troubling considering the DoD is in the middle of a
Nuclear Posture Review, an initiative meant to help us determine what
nuclear weapons we absolutely need for a credible deterrent. Last week,
Secretary Mattis told this subcommittee that he is still looking at the
LRSO's deterrent value, so appropriating more money for R&D seems
unwise given its uncertain future. Given the estimated cost of
modernizing our nuclear weapons, do you think it is appropriate to
prioritize the LRSO while this review is ongoing?
Answer. Yes. Air-launched, nuclear cruise missiles have been a
critical component of the Nation's nuclear deterrent for nearly six
decades. The Long Range Standoff Weapon is key to the continued
credibility and effectiveness of the Nuclear Triad. In order to meet
validated requirements, the Air Force is proposing to continue the LRSO
program of record as reflected in the fiscal year 2018 President's
Budget request.
______
Questions Submitted to General David L. Goldfein
Questions Submitted by Senator Susan M. Collins
Question. Based on the 14 F-35A's in the Air Force's Unfunded
Requirements List, it appears the Air Force wants to procure 60
aircraft in fiscal year 2018 but budgetary restrictions reduced the
number in the request. Without the constraints of the Budget Control
Act, is it accurate to say the Air Force would prefer to be at 60
aircraft per year at this point?
Answer. Yes.
Question. The defense committees have heard a lot about the
proliferation of advanced air defenses and other weapons that may erode
our strategic advantage to hold any target at risk. Given the evolving
capabilities of our near peer adversaries, when do we need to have the
B-21 bomber fielded to meet the Air Force's requirements for both
strategic and conventional missions?
Answer. The B-21 is currently on track to meet initial operating
capability in the mid-2020's to provide the ability to penetrate modern
air defenses to accomplish national security objectives despite an
advanced anti-access/area-denial environment.
______
Questions Submitted by Senator Patty Murray
Question. Over the last few years the Air Force, in particular, has
been increasingly sounding alarms of an imminent pilot shortage--to the
extent in multiple hearings Air Force leaders have referenced the
shortage as a ``crisis.'' In an effort to alleviate this crisis, the
Air Force revised its aviation retention pay program. However, it
appears the program has inadvertently created doubt as to whether the
Air Force is acting in good faith to retain aviators given: (1)
perceived bait-and-switch retention pay options for those who opted-in
early in fiscal year 2016, and (2) the narrow eligibility criteria
outlined in the fiscal year 2017 retention pay program. How many pilots
opted-in early in fiscal year 2016? What were the written instructions
and/or guidance published in fiscal year 2016 explaining details
related to fiscal year 2016 early opt-in option and when were
instructions/guidance published? How many pilots' service commitments
expired in fiscal year 2016 and did not take a retention pay? What is
the percentage of pilots that separate if the retention pay is not
taken? How many pilots' service commitments expire in fiscal year 2017
and, to date, how many have opted-in the retention program? What was
the rationale to exclude pilots whose service commitments expired in
fiscal year 2016 from the fiscal year 2017 retention pay program? How
many pilots are eligible in fiscal year 2018 for a retention pay
program?
Answer. The Air Force did not want to create any perception of a
``bait and switch.'' We worked hard with Congress to seek increased
authority and develop a plan to incentivize retention based on service
needs. ``Early enrollees'' (those who signed a contract in fiscal year
2016) are eligible for the fiscal year 2017 aviation bonus (if their
community offers an increased annual amount and/or contract length
under the fiscal year 2017 program). ``Early enrollees must extend
their contract by a year. In addition, the criteria is not different
from previous years' programs and was designed to assuage Congress'
concerns that the Air Force was treating the bonus as an
``entitlement,'' while recognizing the extremely low take rate of
personnel who have previously rejected the bonus on multiple occasions.
--How many pilots opted-in early in fiscal year 2016?
A: 220 of 820 (28.0 percent)
--What were the written instructions and/or guidance published in
fiscal year 2016 explaining details related to fiscal year 2016
early opt-in option and when were instructions/guidance
published?
A: Please see the attached proposal sent to Office of the
Secretary of Defense and then released as guidance by the Air
Force on December 22, 2015. Specifically, you can review the
eligibility guidance beginning on page 4.
--How many pilots' service commitments expired in fiscal year 2016
and did not take a retention pay?
A: 387 initial eligible pilots did not take the bonus in fiscal
year 2016 (51.6 percent did not take the bonus).
--What is the percentage of pilots that separate if the retention pay
is not taken?
A: Approximately 2 percent of retirement-eligible pilots do not
take a bonus. For pilots who do not take a bonus, 93 percent
separate prior to 20 years; the vast majority separate within
1-2 years of declining it.
--How many pilots' service commitments expire in fiscal year 2017
and, to date, how many have opted-in the retention program?
A: 708 pilots are eligible initially for the bonus in fiscal year
2017. As of August 14, 2017, 220 signed early last year and 29
more have signed long-term contracts in fiscal year 2017.
--What was the rationale to exclude pilots whose service commitments
expired in fiscal year 2016 from the fiscal year 2017 retention
pay program?
A: The Air Force did not offer a bonus to pilots whose service
commitments expired in fiscal year 2016 predominantly due to
two issues; (1) In discussions with Congress, concerns were
expressed the Air Force offered the bonus to everyone (and in
the same amount) in past years and was treating this as an
entitlement versus a retention tool; (2) There was the low
utilization rate. Historical data showed that the number of
pilots who signed a bonus after their original year of
eligibility was minimal (11Fs (Fighter Pilots): 5 of 112 (4.5
percent); 11Xs (All Pilots): 37 of 447 (8.3 percent)).
--How many pilots are eligible in fiscal year 2018 for a retention
pay program?
A: 814 pilots are eligible for the bonus in fiscal year 2018
initially.
Question. The KC-46A program will deliver 179 aircraft by 2028,
resulting in a tanker fleet of nearly 480 aircraft. General McDew
testified last month TRANSCOM wargames have not recently considered the
attrition of logistics platforms to include tankers. Following revised
future wargame exercises, which will consider various levels of
attrition of logistics platforms, TRANSCOM will re-visit total fleet
size requirements for the tanker fleet. Additionally, General McDew
further testified he is concerned about delayed delivery of the KC-46As
and the immediate impacts to an aging tanker fleet. Based on future
wargaming outcomes and drivers behind current delays being experienced
in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the KC-46A
certification: Will the Air Force purchase more KC-46As, beyond the
179-contract, if new analysis from TRANSCOM indicates a greater tanker
fleet size is required? Will the Air Force communicate FAA
certification challenges and/or delays to the Senate Appropriations
Committee-Defense Subcommittee, resulting in delays assessed at a total
of 30-calendar days or greater, until delivery of the first KC-46A?
Answer. As with any program of record, the purchase of additional
aircraft must be balanced with other Air Force priorities. However,
should US Transportation Command validate additional requirements, they
would carry significant leverage during our budget deliberations. We
will continue to update Congress on additional delays to the KC-46
program.
______
Questions Submitted by Senator Tom Udall
Question. What is the Air Force's plan to continue development of a
hypersonic capability alongside Sandia National Labs? How concerned are
you about Russia and China's progress developing this capability?
Answer. Our vision of the Air Force in the future includes game-
changing, multi-domain technologies like hypersonic vehicles, directed-
energy, unmanned and autonomous systems, and nanotechnology. In order
to do this, significant investments, along with steady and predictable
budgets, are required to modernize and increase capability across all
domains while reversing negative trends in capacity and readiness
levels. The Air Force is accelerating our research and development in
hypersonics technologies. Our senior Air Force leaders met in March,
2017 to define the way forward for our hypersonic capability
development. However, we can't do it alone. This is a National
issue...we need the Department--as part of a National network--to push
the boundaries in this area and bring hypersonic capabilities to our
warfighters. The U.S. has a long history in hypersonic research and
development; however, we no longer enjoy preeminence in this area,
particularly as it pertains to military applications. Several countries
around the world (including China and Russia) are developing and
testing their own hypersonic capabilities . . . in many cases using
work gleaned from the U.S. As recently concluded by the Air Force
Studies Board report on High Speed Maneuvering Weapons, the U.S. may be
``facing a threat from a new class of weapons that will effectively
combine speed, maneuverability, and altitude in ways that could
challenge this Nation's tenets of global vigilance, reach, and power.''
Question. The Air Force is responsible for two of the three legs of
the triad, so it is no doubt that you have a keen interest in the life
extension programs that are ongoing at the national labs. The plutonium
mission at Los Alamos National Lab is one key part of the stockpile
stewardship program. Would you be concerned about any changes which
would increase the cost and stretch the timelines for meeting the
plutonium requirements set-out by the Nuclear Weapons Council,
including Strategic Command?
Answer. Yes. It is imperative that we remain on schedule regarding
plutonium requirement timelines to ensure production remains
synchronized with Air Force nuclear modernization programs.
______
Questions Submitted by Senator Brian Schatz
Question. The Air Force takes great strides every day to stay ahead
of the A2/AD threat in the Pacific. The unfunded priority list for
fiscal year 2018 identifies several requirements to support US Pacific
Command's ability to sustain air operation in contested areas--vehicles
and spare parts for expeditionary air fields, as well as medical
equipment and prepositioned stocks of wartime materials for the 36th
Contingency Group in Guam. What makes these important requirements for
the Pacific and what risks are we taking [sic] by not funding them in
this year's appropriations bills?
Answer. The threats in the Pacific are rapidly advancing and our
response thus far is not keeping pace. In order to maintain our
competitive advantage we have rethought how we set the theater, defend
our bases, and employ our forces to ensure effects for the JFC. First,
we need to set the theater with manning, equipment and forces to enable
our fight tonight requirement. This includes: Increasing the Air Force
manning to 350,000 personnel to allow 24/7 operations, rapid fielding
of additive F-35 forces in theater, increased forward-deployed C2ISR
forces, fully funding the Guam-based Contingency Response Group
capability to enable more base opening capacity, and increased critical
munitions at survivable locations such as Guam. Both the set-the-
theater requirement and fully funding the Guam Contingency Response
Group are on the Air Force unfunded list. Second, we need to invest in
our new concept to provide for force resiliency known as Agile Combat
Employment. This concept of operations allows us to be more
maneuverable at the operational level but requires more operational
sustainment and personnel. Finally, we need to rethink how we defend
our airbases. We are currently on the wrong side of the cost curve with
a $2-$10 million interceptor (Patriot/THAAD) going after a $300,000
adversary munition. We need a deep-magazine active defense capability
to defend against the now thousands of cruise and ballistic missiles
that potential adversaries could bring to bear against our basing.
Question. Recognizing the risk in this reliance, the Air Force has
been working on a project that uses new energy and cyber technologies
to provide reliable power to the 154th Wing of the Hawaii Air National
Guard. Can I get your commitment that the Air Force is going to follow
through on this project so that if the civilian grid goes down, the Air
Guard can continue to protect Hawaii and support the Air Force's
mission in the Pacific without any interruption?
Answer. Based on current mission needs and funding availability, it
is our intention to remain committed to this project.
SUBCOMMITTEE RECESS
Senator Udall. With that, the subcommittee stands in
recess. Thank you very much.
[Whereupon, at 11:54 a.m., Wednesday, June 21, the
subcommittee was recessed, to reconvene subject to the call of
the Chair.]