[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5006-5007]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       F-35 JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER

  Mr. HATCH. Madam President, I rise today in support of the F-35 Joint 
Strike Fighter. I have previously addressed this body on the progress 
of the F-35 program and its importance to our national defense. On one 
of those occasions, I stated that this weapons system provides the 
capabilities we need to protect our freedoms and those of our allies. 
That statement resonates even more today as the international security 
landscape grows even more precarious.
  When the F-35 program started over 20 years ago, the strategic 
backdrop for the program of record was significantly different than it 
is today. The Cold War had recently drawn to a close, and the menace of 
Islamic extremists, rogue states, and nonstate actors was just 
beginning to surface. Today, these groups pose the most salient threat 
to our national security--and we all know it. To find examples of their 
deviant behavior, look no further than the headlines of today's papers.
  In Eastern Europe, Putin's invasion of a sovereign nation threatens 
not only the security of the Ukrainian people but also tests the 
resolve of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization--perhaps our 
country's most important defense alliance.
  In the Middle East, Iran grows more emboldened with its ballistic 
missile tests, rattling a region already on the verge of violent 
conflict. And none of this is to mention the metastasis of ISIS in Iraq 
and a seemingly endless civil war in Syria.
  In Asia, the North Korean regime constantly threatens South Korea 
with war. Meanwhile, tensions over territorial waters in the South 
China Sea grow more strained, escalating the possibility of conflict 
between China and our Asian allies. All the while, China continues to 
leverage its economic largesse to build highly advanced weapons 
systems.
  I believe many Members of this body would agree that the dangers 
facing our country today are more immediate and far-reaching than they 
were just 20 years ago.
  As threats to our national security proliferate across the globe, we 
need a next-generation weapon system of unparalleled capability. We 
need a strike fighter powerful enough to deter the aggression of our 
foes. We need an aircraft that can penetrate advanced enemy air 
defenses and neutralize targets on the ground. In short, we need the F-
35.
  In fact, we need the F-35 today more than ever. Even so, there are 
those who seek to reduce or delay the number of F-35s being produced. I 
strongly advise against this action. Reducing procurement numbers for 
the F-35 will only make the aircraft more expensive in the long run.
  To ensure that our country continues to dominate airpower for decades 
to come, we must stay the course and resist the urge to cut aircraft. 
That is why I believe we must increase, not decrease, the number of F-
35s scheduled for production.
  Recently, several of my colleagues, led by Senators Cornyn and 
Shaheen, sent a letter to the Armed Services Committee and the Defense 
Appropriations Subcommittee in both the House and the Senate. Their 
letter was clear: The need for the F-35 in today's environment is 
crucial. Therefore, the committees of jurisdiction should not follow 
the President's budget reduction plan but should maintain the program 
of record.
  I realize the frustrations that many of my colleagues have with the 
acquisition process of the Department of Defense. During the first two 
decades of the F-35's journey, the Joint Strike Fighter Program Office 
experienced its fair share of setbacks, broken promises, missteps, and 
faulty leadership decisions--decisions made by both government leaders 
and industry partners. Even from within the Pentagon itself, we have 
heard the title of ``acquisition malpractice'' bestowed upon this 
program at the highest levels after the Nunn-McCurdy breach for cost 
growth.
  Time and again, my much esteemed colleague, the senior Senator from 
Arizona, has pointed out these shortfalls and missteps. I echo his 
frustrations and stress the need for an acquisition and sustainment 
strategy that focuses on delivering and sustaining the most available, 
capable, and affordable weapon systems for the warfighter.
  Nevertheless, we must recognize that reducing procurement numbers for 
the F-35 will only put an unnecessary strain on our Armed Forces. Given 
the dangerous state of global affairs, now is not the time to hamstring 
our military's capabilities.
  Amid the many criticisms of the F-35 program, I wish to call 
attention to its successes. In terms of both capability and 
performance, the F-35 program has made tremendous strides. On the 
affordability front, the price of each F-35 has dropped dramatically 
over the past 5 years to under $100 million per aircraft. This trend is 
expected to continue for at least the next 5 years in order to achieve 
a flyaway cost of $85 million per aircraft by 2019.
  In an affordability and capability sense, the F-35 is a bargain, but 
in addition to being a bargain, the F-35 is also an indispensable asset 
to our defense arsenal. The F-35 has the ability to destroy some of the 
most advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground systems in existence today. 
Many of these systems are being developed by the Russians and the 
Chinese. The F-35's stealth technology, advanced sensors, and weapons 
allow it to defeat those integrated air-defense environments. That is 
to our advantage, no question about it.
  Currently, even the most advanced versions of the F-16 and F/A-18 
would be hard-pressed to defeat such threats alone. That is why we need 
the F-35. With the F-35, we can maintain our ability to strike any 
target anywhere in the world.
  The F-35 is not only a tremendous strike aircraft, but it is also a 
war-winning dogfighter. In fact, when facing legacy aircraft such as 
the F-16 and F/A-18 in air-to-air combat scenarios, the F-35 
consistently wins these engagements. The aircraft's combination of 
stealth, maneuverability, and superior battlespace awareness allows the 
F-35 to enter the fight against legacy aircraft with a great advantage. 
If you ask our Marine, Navy, and Air Force pilots flying this aircraft 
today, they will tell you what they told me: This is the best fighter 
aircraft they have ever flown and the plane they want to take into 
battle above all others.
  This conclusion is shared not just by American pilots who have flown 
the aircraft, but also by our allies who have chosen to purchase the F-
35 out of a wide variety of aircraft that are currently available in 
other countries as well.
  As the Israeli Defense Minister recently said, ``I'm very happy that 
we'll know how to preserve the qualitative military edge of the Israeli 
Defense Forces and of the Israeli Air Force through acquisition of this 
important plane.''
  Military might is useful only if three things occur: One, the 
capability is present to counter and engage the threat; two, the 
capacity and numbers are present for all of the threats; and three, 
those in power have the resolve to use them to protect the sovereignty 
of our Nation and its citizens.
  The current demand on our military requires every ounce of capability 
made available by advanced weapon systems and, just as important, the

[[Page 5007]]

numbers needed to counter threats the globe over.
  Consider how in the past we chose to reduce the number of F-22 
advanced fighters made available to combatant commanders. Originally, 
the program of record for the F-22 was 750 aircraft, yet we procured 
only 195. Today, the demand for the F-22 and its capabilities dwarfs 
the available jets in the inventory. In hindsight, we should have 
bought 1,000.
  Similar situations have also occurred with the B-2 bomber, the C-17 
transport, and numerous other aircraft. The lesson is clear: The 
program of record for 1,763 F-35 A models for the Air Force and 680 B 
and C models for the Navy and Marine Corps have to materialize and be 
realized. The committees of jurisdiction should also insist to the 
Department that the F-35 Joint Program Office also acquire the spare 
parts needed to sustain the numbers and accelerate that purchase to 
ensure that F-35s are sustained at the level of readiness demanded by 
the current world dynamic. As the old adage goes, if we do not learn 
from history, then we are doomed to repeat it.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. COATS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________