[MilCom] Air Force proposal aims to eliminate 250 fighter jets

[Duane Mantick]

Incredible.  Prior to these proposed cuts in the already-existing aircraft pool, I wrote to the White House, both my Senators (Lugar and Bayh) and my Rep. (Buyer).  So far it is zilch from the White House and Sen. Bayh (hey, bub - so you wanna get re-elected?).  I have heard back from Sen. Lugar and Rep. Buyer.  Specifically I expressed my opposition to cutting the F22 program.  Sen Lugar's email reply was somewhat less than I had hoped for which is in stark contrast to others over a peiod of many years that we here in Indiana have kept sending him back to the Senate.  He did not address the F22 at all, but gave a more blanket and uncharacteristically evasive statement about wanting to "...ensure that our warfighters have the tools they need to protect our nation, while at the same time making effective and efficient use of limited tax dollars."

Rep. Buyer was far more definitive and made it clear that in the House there is great concern regarding the F22, saying that in Jan 2009 he joined with 191 members of Congress who signed a letter to Pres. Obama.  This letter doesn't waste any time hitting the point, urging the "...continued production of this vital program."  The letter also covers many of the peripheral issues including the loss of jobs and manufacturing base as well as the supplier (subcontractors?) base. It also points out that the newer surface-to-air missile systems are "proliferating" and I think the meaning is clear - the F22's stealth and advanced ECM capabilities render it LESS susceptible to those threats.

The best summary I have heard, succinct and to the point: "...it is clear that such a lean F-22 fleet is not consistent with America's national security interest."

OK, granted this is somewhat off-topic here but I have the feeling that most of you guys will accept that we who listen are also people who CARE about our nations defense and military capabilities (AND about the people who are expected to perform the missions).  Please, if you have not done so already - if you agree that these cuts in our Air Superiority are NOT a good idea, write to your congresscritters and let them know that they need to lean on the White House and DOD to NOT take down our aviation future.

Duane
WB9OMC


--- On Wed, 5/20/09, JOSHUA COX <josh_75 at earthlink.net> wrote:

> From: JOSHUA COX <josh_75 at earthlink.net>
> Subject: [MilCom] Air Force proposal aims to eliminate 250 fighter jets
> To: "aircommsouthwest" <AirCommSouthwest at yahoogroups.com>, "baycomm" <baycomm at earthlink.net>, "milcom" <MilCom at mailman.qth.net>, "radiomonitors" <radiomonitors at yahoogroups.com>, "socalmilcom" <socalmilcom at yahoogroups.com>
> Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 8:32 PM
> www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=62793
> 
> 
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