AP News Report (Washington D.C.) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates announched deep cuts to some of the Pentagon's biggest weapons programs like stopping production of the USAF's $140 billion F-22 fighter jet prgram.
The U.S. Army modernization program will be rolled back and a new search-and-rescue helicopter will be cut out as well.
So far, it looks like the battle between the air-tanker companies will go on and more and more KC-135s are grounded for much needed repairs and upgrades.
UPDATE: F-22 not totally cancelled. Enough pressure was brought forth to keep production going at a trinkle. Boeing's C-17 was also, it seemed, saved. New replacement long-range bombers have been scrapped.
What appears to be scrapped right now Future Combat System.
Missile Defense Program scaled back program cost by $1.4 billion. The second Boeing airborne laser demonstration aircraft is cancelled.
For the Navy, Gates proposes a 5-year build cycle of Aircraft Carriers. (This projects the Navy operating just 10 aircraft carriers by the year 2040). Plus the new DDG-1000 destroyers are to be built in just one shipyard in a cost savings move. And at General Dynamics, they will restart DDG-51 building at the Northrop shipyard.
___
+033.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment