Wednesday, 21 March 2012
U.S. Air Force
Morning Report
DO NOT FORWARD WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM PRODUCT OWNER
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
BUDGET
AF Times: Senator: Give Guard plan more than ‘lip service’ (1)
Defense News: Senators Tell USAF to Prove C-27 Cost Claims (5)
NUCLEAR ENTERPRISE
GSN: Pentagon Undecided on Nuclear Warhead for New Cruise Missile (8)
WIN TODAY’S FIGHT
AFP: Months Before Any Decision on Afghan Drawdown: U.S. (11)
San Diego Union-Trib: Air combat in Afghanistan plummets (14)
CARING FOR AIRMEN
Seattle Times: Families on front line of soldiers' distress (16)
MODERNIZATION
Flight International: USAF training bosses underscore need for T-X acquisition (21)
ACQUISITION EXCELLENCE
Defense News: Pentagon Finalizing New Cost Estimate for F-35 Program (23)
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT
AFP: U.S. Sees Perils of Israeli Strike on Iran: Report (25)
Canadian Press: Auditor to chastise DND/Public Works on F-35 (29)
OF INTEREST
AFP: Philippines’ Aquino Says More U.S. Troops Welcome (31)
BUDGET
1. Senator: Give Guard plan more than ‘lip service’
(Air Force Times, 20 Mar 12) … Brian Everstine
Air Force leaders said they will meet with Defense Department officials Friday to address concerns
that the service’s proposed 2013 budget cuts too many Air National Guard members and aircraft.
2. Key GOP chairman backs boosting programs that could be used against Iran
(The Hill, 20 Mar 12) … Carlo Munoz
The threat of war with Iran is real, and Congress must do everything possible to ensure the Pentagon
is ready, a top defense lawmaker said Tuesday.
3. Senators push Air Force on cuts to Air Guard
(The Hill, 20 Mar 12) … Brandon Conradis
Senators from both parties emphasized their hometown concerns with the Pentagon's budget
Tuesday, focusing on local bases and proposed Air Force cuts to the Air National Guard at a Senate
hearing.
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4. Senators: DoD can cut redundant programs
(Air Force Times, 20 Mar 12) … Rick Maze
Two key Republican senators are recommending the Defense Department reduce duplicative and
overlapping programs to stave off deep cuts in force structure and weapons programs.
5. Senators Tell USAF to Prove C-27 Cost Claims
(Defense News 20 Mar 12) … Marcus Weisgerber
U.S. senators are demanding that the Air Force explain the metrics it used to estimate the lifetime
cost of operating the C-27J cargo plane, which the service has proposed canceling in the Pentagon’s
2013 budget proposal.
6. New U.S. Base Closing Round Unlikely: Levin
(Defense News, 20 Mar 12) … Weisgerber
A powerful U.S. senator that oversees defense spending predicts Congress will not authorize a round
of domestic base closures.
7. GOP budget plan may avoid sweeping cuts
(Air Force Times, 20 Mar 12) … Rick Maze
There is no extra money for defense in the House Republican budget plan unveiled Tuesday, but
there may be an escape hatch from the damaging across-the-board budget cuts looming for January.
CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THE NUCLEAR ENTERPRISE
8. Pentagon Undecided on Nuclear Warhead for New Cruise Missile
(Global Security Newswire, 20 Mar 12) … Elaine M. Grossman
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Defense Department has yet to determine which nuclear warhead will be
fielded on a weapon that replaces the 1980s-vintage Air Launched Cruise Missile, according to
Pentagon and combatant command officials.
9. Obama's Nonproliferation Initiatives Seen Losing Steam
(Global Security Newswire, 20 Mar 12) … Unattributed
President Obama's bid to pursue a nuclear weapon-free world and counter the threat of nucleararmed extremists has foundered following early successes, and the intensifying U.S. electoral race
diminishes the likelihood of significant new accomplishments by his administration in either area,
Reuters reported on Tuesday.
10. Medvedev Says Russian Military Must Ready Response to U.S. Missile Shield
(Global Security Newswire, 20 Mar 12) … Unattributed
Outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday said the nation's armed forces must move
to respond to a U.S. effort to deploy missile interceptors in Europe, the Associated Press reported.
PARTNER WITH JOINT AND COALITION TEAM TO WIN TODAY’S FIGHT
11. Months Before Any Decision on Afghan Drawdown: U.S.
(Agence France-Presse, 20 Mar 12) … Unattributed
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WASHINGTON - The U.S. commander in Afghanistan said March 20 that he would not issue a
recommendation on the pace of troop drawdown for several months, despite calls in Washington to
speed withdrawal after a series of damaging incidents in the war.
12. Pakistan Panel Demands U.S. Apology for Deadly Airstrike
(Agence France-Presse, 20 Mar 12) … Khurram Shahzad
ISLAMABAD - Pakistani lawmakers demanded an American apology and taxes on NATO convoys in
recommendations put to parliament March 20 in a key step towards repairing a major crisis in
relations with the U.S.
13. Afghan VP says deal with U.S. will respect sovereignty
(AP, 20 Mar 12) … Unattributed
MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan - Afghanistan's vice president says that any long-term military
agreement with the United States will respect his nation's sovereignty and will be based on the
interests of both countries.
14. Air combat in Afghanistan plummets
February lowest in at least four years
(San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar 12) … Gretel C. Kovach
February was the calmest month for air forces operating in Afghanistan in at least three years,
according to the latest air power report by U.S. Air Forces Central Command.
15. Afghan intel service: No torture at our prisons
(AP, 20 Mar 12) … Heidi Vogt
KABUL, Afghanistan - The Afghan intelligence service rejected findings Tuesday by international and
Afghan rights groups that abuse has gone unchecked at some of its prisons.
DEVELOP AND CARE FOR AIRMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES
16. Families on front line of soldiers' distress
(Seattle Times, 20 Mar 12) … Lornet Turnbull
It started with the nightmares - middle-of-the-night eruptions when her fiancé would jolt her awake
with his screams, his body drenched in sweat.
17. Veterans panel will leave empty chair for MIAs
(Air Force Times, 20 Mar 12) … Rick Maze
The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee will leave one empty, flag-draped chair in the front row of its
hearings starting Thursday in memory of the 83,455 service members still listed as missing in action.
18. Study: Ibuprofen can prevent altitude sickness
(Air Force Times, 20 Mar 12) … Patricia Kime
Corpsmen and medics in Afghanistan and at mountain warfare training have another reason to dole
out their ever-popular 800 milligram horse pills of ibuprofen: altitude sickness.
MODERNIZE OUR AIR, SPACE AND CYBERSPACE INVENTORIES, ORGS AND TRAINING
19. Korean Air upgrades U.S. F-15s
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(UPI, 20 Mar 12) … Unattributed
SEOUL -- Korea Air has delivered the first rewired U.S. F-15 jet fighter under a contract to upgrade
avionics on 60 of the aircraft.
20. New Environments Challenge UAV Connectivity
(Aviation Week, 20 Mar 12) … Frank Morring, Jr.
U.S. Air Force planners expect commercial communications satellites to have an ever-larger role in
operating remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs) as war-on-terror funding dwindles and the U.S. military
focus shifts to other theaters, including Africa, Latin America and the U.S. border regions.
21. USAF training bosses underscore need for T-X acquisition
(Flight International, 20 Mar 12) … Craig Hoyle
Despite a planned three-year slip in the initial operational capability goal for its T-X next-generation
trainer, the US Air Force continues to view the Northrop T-38 Talon replacement deal as a major
priority.
22. Air Force is next to move to DoD enterprise email
(Federal News Radio, 20 Mar 12) … Jason Miller
The number of military services preparing to move its email systems to the Defense Information
Systems Agency's cloud is growing.
RECAPTURE ACQUISITION EXCELLENCE
23. US Air Force holds back $621M from Raytheon for missile delays
(Bloomberg, 20 Mar 12) … Unattributed
The Air Force is withholding $621 million in payments to Raytheon Co., the biggest domestic maker
of missiles for the US military, citing chronic delays in delivering the most advanced air-to-air missile
for the service and the Navy.
24. Pentagon Finalizing New Cost Estimate for F-35 Program
(Defense News, 20 Mar 12) … Marcus Weisgerber
The U.S. Defense Department is finalizing paperwork that will unveil a new total program cost
estimate for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in “just a few days,” according to the Navy admiral
who oversees the multibillion dollar effort.
GLOBAL AIR, SPACE, and CYBERSPACE ENVIRONMENT
25. U.S. Sees Perils of Israeli Strike on Iran: Report
(Agence France-Presse, 20 Mar 12) … Unattributed
NEW YORK - A classified U.S. war simulation held to assess potential fallout from an Israeli attack on
Iran predicts it would spark a broader regional war involving the U.S., The New York Times reported
March 20.
26. Israeli Violation of Lebanese Airspace Unacceptable - Russia
(RIA Novosti, 20 Mar 12) … Adnan Mansour and Sergei Lavrov
MOSCOW - The violation of Lebanese airspace by the Israeli Air Force is unacceptable, Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday after a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart.
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27. Russian Air Force Adopts New Cruise Missile
(RIA Novosti, 20 Mar 12) … Alexander Stelliferovsky
MOSCOW - A new cruise missile has entered service with the Russian Air Force’s strategic longrange arms division, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Tuesday.
28. British business pins Gulf hopes on mega fighter jet deal
(Al Arabiya, 21 Mar 12) … Carina Kamel
As the British defence sector prepares to submit what could be one of the most significant deals in
defence contracting with the UAE Air force, the British government is stepping up efforts to court its
Gulf partners.
29. Auditor to chastise DND/Public Works on F-35
(Canadian Press, 20 Mar 12) … Murray Brewster
OTTAWA - Canada's auditor general has both National Defence and Public Works in his sights when
it comes to the troubled F-35 stealth fighter program, say senior government sources.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
30. Germany Confirms Sale of Nuclear-Capable Sub to Israel
(Agence France-Presse, 20 Mar 12) … Unattributed
BERLIN - Germany will sell Israel a sixth nuclear capable Dolphin-class submarine, Germany’s
defense minister confirmed on March 20 after talks in Berlin with his Israeli counterpart Ehud Barak.
31. Philippines’ Aquino Says More U.S. Troops Welcome
(Agence France-Presse, 20 Mar 12) … Karl Malakunas
MANILA - Philippine President Benigno Aquino said on March 20 that more U.S. troops would be
welcome to rotate through the Southeast Asian nation, but ruled out permanent bases.
32. Cyber warfare rules still being written
(Washington Times, 20 Mar 12) … Shaun Waterman
The Pentagon is still writing rules for combating cyberattacks, even though U.S. Cyber Command has
been operating for more than a year, defense officials said Tuesday.
HEADLINES
CNN at 0530
Lawyer: Bales likely to be charged with homicide
Romney takes Ill., looks to Louisiana
Outrage grows over teen's killing
FOX News at 0530
Romney Victory in Illinois Primary Leaves Steep Road for Santorum
Police Probe Attack on State Senator's Office
Al Qaeda Link Claimed in France School Shooting
NPR at 0530
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Romney Looks Inevitable In Ill. (And Maybe After)
Medicaid And A Tale Of Two Miami Hospitals
Without Parole, Juveniles Face Bleak Life In Prison
USA Today at 0530
Mitt Romney sweeps to win in Illinois primary
Father: Slain Fla. teen 'was profiled' by shooter
Obama outraises his GOP opponents in February
Washington Post at 0530
Romney wins Republican primary in Illinois
Santorum’s blunt talk is proving troublesome as GOP race expands
With spending plan, House GOP renews budget clash with Obama
FULL TEXT
BUDGET
B1
Senator: Give Guard plan more than ‘lip service’
(Air Force Times, 20 Mar 12) … Brian Everstine
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/03/air-force-senator-give-guard-plan-more-than-lip-service-032012/
Air Force leaders said they will meet with Defense Department officials Friday to address concerns
that the service’s proposed 2013 budget cuts too many Air National Guard members and aircraft.
The Council of Governors, whose members are angered by what they say are disproportionate cuts
to Guard units in their states, has presented an alternative plan to Air Force leaders that would shift
more of the burden to the active duty force.
Air Force Secretary Michael Donley said Tuesday that because Defense Secretary Leon Panetta had
invited the alternative plan, it will be up to him to decide how to respond to the Council of Governors.
“[Panetta} will have to asses the progress and the value of whatever proposition is laid before him,”
Donley told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., told Donley that even though the decision is up to Panetta, “he’s going to
rely on your recommendations.”
Brown also urged Air Force leaders to give serious consideration to the alternative plan.
“From what I’m hearing, there’s just been lip service given to the real and legitimate proposals [in the
Council of Governors’ plan],” he said. “I’d like to have an understanding that if you do not take the
recommendations, why?”
Guard units have been “blindsided” by the cuts, and the Air Force hasn’t provided much opportunity
for input in the budget process, Brown said.
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The co-chairs of the National Governors Association, in a letter sent Monday to Donley and Chief of
Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, wrote that they hope to receive an offer that will better meet the needs of
the states and the National Guard.
The Air Force’s fiscal 2013 budget proposal seeks to cut 5,100 guardsman, 900 reservists and 3,900
active duty airmen. The Council of Governors report, which was put together by a group of state
adjutant generals on behalf of the bipartisan group, counters with cuts of 2,000 guardsman and 6,400
active duty airmen, according to a copy obtained by Air Force Times.
During the hearing Tuesday, senators lined up to defend the National Guard in their states against
the cuts.
“I have serious doubts about the wisdom of doing that and the disproportionate impact of these
proposed cuts on the Air National Guard,” said committee chairman Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.
While lawmakers decried the cuts to the Guard and Reserve because of the higher cost to keep a
larger active-duty component, Schwartz said the driving factor in the decision making was finding a
right balance in the force.
The Air Force had determined that there is an excess in tactical lift, and a majority of that capability is
in the Guard and Reserve, Donley said.
“The focus of our discussions internally is on how to balance the active and Reserve component force
structure … to make sure that we do not break the active force or Guard and Reserve as we consider
total force management,” Donley said.
“You cannot tell the difference of airmen in the field,” Schwartz said. “The fundamental question here
is with a smaller Air Force, how do you manage activity levels across entire portfolio in ways that
don’t provide adverse effects on active duty active levels … or Guard and Reserve side.”
RETURN
B2
Key GOP chairman backs boosting programs that could be used against Iran
(The Hill, 20 Mar 12) … Carlo Munoz
http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/policy-and-strategy/216971-turner-backs-increased-investment-against-potential-iranian-conflict
The threat of war with Iran is real, and Congress must do everything possible to ensure the Pentagon
is ready, a top defense lawmaker said Tuesday.
Iran’s recent saber-rattling and its refusal to open up its nuclear program to international scrutiny is
“reason [enough] to be concerned” about a potential conflict between Tehran and Washington or its
regional allies such as Israel, Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio) said Tuesday during a breakfast with
reporters.
Turner, chairman of the House Armed Services subcommittee on Strategic Forces, added that the
United States cannot afford to bet against Iran turning that war rhetoric into action. He also said he
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supports efforts by committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) to focus defense dollars on
programs that could be used in a military action against Iran.
Last Wednesday, McKeon said Congress must begin to “allocate resources for contingencies like
Iran.” The upcoming fiscal 2013 defense spending bill will reflect “appropriate resourcing” for those
programs designed to counter the Iranian threat, he added in his speech at the Ronald Reagan
Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif.
Turner dismissed criticisms that fast-tracking weapons programs for a possible Iranian conflict would
just inflame an already combustible situation between the two countries.
Iran’s ongoing military buildup — including the possible addition of a nuclear weapon to that arsenal
— and its recent aggressive actions in the Straits of Hormuz is proof enough that Tehran could be
gearing up for a fight, Turner said.
“Perhaps we should believe them,” he said.
U.S. naval forces in the Persian Gulf have already beefed up their fleet to deter a possible Iranian
attack. The Navy has doubled the number of mine-hunting vessels in the region and outfitted its
warships with powerful Gatling guns to counter Iran’s small, fast-moving patrol boats.
Turner declined to comment on which specific resources — in terms of actual programs and weapons
systems — would receive more money, noting that committee members are still hashing out the
details of the House proposal.
But one program that could benefit from this effort is the new Massive Ordnance Penetrator bomb.
The bomb is a 30,000-pound behemoth capable of blasting through hundreds of feet of reinforced
concrete to hit a target. It dwarfs the Pentagon’s Massive Ordnance Air Blast weapon — known
affectionately as the “mother of all bombs” in defense circles — and is the largest non-nuclear
weapon in the U.S. military arsenal.
It is the perfect weapon to hit the heavily fortified underground bunkers where Iran is suspected to be
hiding its nuclear weapons work, Lt. Gen. Herbert Carlisle, Air Force deputy chief of staff for
operations, said during a March 9 speech in Arlington, Va.
RETURN
B3
Senators push Air Force on cuts to Air Guard
(The Hill, 20 Mar 12) … Brandon Conradis
http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/air-force/217125-senators-push-air-force-on-cuts-to-air-guard
Senators from both parties emphasized their hometown concerns with the Pentagon's budget
Tuesday, focusing on local bases and proposed Air Force cuts to the Air National Guard at a Senate
hearing.
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“I have significant concerns about the way the Air Force’s proposed cuts fall disproportionately on the
National Guard, and I question the logic that the Air Force used in crafting their proposal," said
Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) at Tuesday's hearing. Levin's home state of
Michigan is among those facing possible cuts to its Air National Guard as part of the Air Force's
budget, which would slash personnel and aircraft on bases across the country.
Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) also voiced his concerns, acknowledging the proposed cuts to Westover
Air Force Base in his home state of Massachusetts. He noted that its fleet of C-5 cargo planes will be
reduced by half in spite of the team’s high success rate.
“You’re basically dismantling crews that have twice as high mission-capability rates [as other crews],”
Brown said. “I don’t get it.”
Testifying before the committee, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said the logic behind
the decision was to even out the ratio of personnel on active and reserve duty. When asked by Brown
as to what would happen to those stationed at Westover, Schwartz ensured him that “the team will
remain largely intact.”
The cuts to the Air National Guard are just one way in which the Air Force is attempting to slash $487
billion of dollars in spending over a 10-year period. In a statement issued last month, the National
Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) said the Air National Guard would suffer the most
under the Air Force’s proposed budget.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) was also among those whose expressed concern over the proposed
cuts, taking issue with the Air Force’s proposal to cut hundreds of Air National Guard jobs in her
home state of New York.
“I question that decision largely because of the capabilities that New York has to offer,” she said,
noting the state’s strategic positioning on the eastern seaboard as well as the Canadian border. “A
large military presence [in New York] is… warranted.”
Levin closed the hearing by emphasizing that the Air Force should work more closely with state
officials.
“Today’s hearing represented important progress," Levin said. "Air Force officials acknowledged that
they are discussing their proposed changes with state governors. Those discussions will hopefully
lead to modifications in their plan.
RETURN
B4
Senators: DoD can cut redundant programs
(Air Force Times, 20 Mar 12) … Rick Maze
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/03/military-senators-pentagon-can-cut-redundant-programs-032012w/
Two key Republican senators are recommending the Defense Department reduce duplicative and
overlapping programs to stave off deep cuts in force structure and weapons programs.
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Sens. John McCain of Arizona, ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and
Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, one of the Senate’s fiercest deficit hawks, have provided some specific
examples, drawn from a recent Government Accountability Office report on mismanagement that
identified 51 areas of concern, including 16 in DoD.
In a March 19 letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, the senators made the recommendations “to
avoid imposing the large cuts to force structure and key investment priorities that the president
proposed in the fiscal year 2013 budget request.”
This is McCain’s latest advice to the Pentagon about spending priorities. Last week, he announced he
would stop approving the transfer of funds between defense accounts to pay for the launch of any
new program not specifically authorized by Congress. On Monday, he and Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.,
the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, asked Panetta to postpone any actions to change
military force structure until the committee has a chance to thoroughly review the fiscal 2013 budget
proposed by the Obama administration.
Among the areas for savings identified by GAO in a Feb. 28 report to Congress:
• The Veterans Affairs Department and Pentagon run similar and overlapping programs to help
severely wounded combat veterans that are inefficient and difficult for the wounded and their families
to follow. In one instance, GAO found five case managers working on the same life insurance issue
for one person. It also found a service member with multiple amputations receiving conflicting
recovery plans from military and VA care coordinators.
• All four services have their own electronic warfare programs that are developing multiple systems
with the same or similar capabilities, and the services and some components are working on their
own unmanned aircraft systems with overlapping capabilities but different priorities.
• Each service has its own language and cultural training program, and some services have more
than one program, without Defense Department guidance to integrate the programs and training
products.
• Medical research is filled with duplicative projects that could be consolidated if DoD, VA and the
National Institute of Health did a better job sharing information.
• The services each have their own large medical command structures that could be streamlined to
save as much as $460 million a year.
McCain and Coburn are asking for detailed replies from DoD about why it has not made some of the
cost-saving recommended by GAO.
RETURN
B5
Senators Tell USAF to Prove C-27 Cost Claims
(Defense News 20 Mar 12) … Marcus Weisgerber
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120320/DEFREG02/303200010/Senators-Tell-USAF-Prove-C-27-CostClaims?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE
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U.S. senators are demanding that the Air Force explain the metrics it used to estimate the lifetime
cost of operating the C-27J cargo plane, which the service has proposed canceling in the Pentagon’s
2013 budget proposal.
Democrats and Republicans, primarily from states where Air National Guard units fly or are slated to
fly the aircraft, questioned the Air Force’s rationale for scrapping the fleet of 21 purchased aircraft.
Thus far, the Air Force has yet to provide congressional defense committees with the metrics it used
to determine that each C-27J would cost $308 million over its lifetime, which the Air Force used in its
rationale to terminate the program.
Lawmakers and defense analysts have questioned the lifecycle costs, particularly because three Air
Force assessments of these costs vary between $111 million and $308 million per aircraft.
Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and other members of
the panel questioned Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz
about the varying C-27J lifecycle cost estimates during a March 20 hearing.
“There’s a big gap there that I don’t think they adequately explained at all here today,” Levin said after
the hearing when asked about the $200 million gap in the estimates.
The committee will continue to look at this issue during its markup of the Pentagon’s 2013 budget
proposal, he said.
“We’re not going to take any actions until we’ve had a chance to markup the bill,” Levin said.
An Air National Guard unit in Levin’s home state of Michigan is supposed to receive C-27Js.
One Air Force analysis of the Alenia Aermacchi C-27J shows that each plane would cost the service
as little as $111 million, but cautions that additional factors could push the estimate above $200
million over a 30-year period.
That estimate is still well below the $308 million figure the service provided to Congress. The number
was repeated by Schwartz at a Feb. 28 House Armed Services Committee hearing.
The $111 million lifecycle estimate is listed in a draft cost-benefit analysis of the twin-engine C-27J
and the quad-engine Lockheed Martin C-130H. The 2012 Defense Authorization Act required the Air
Force to conduct the assessment that gleaned the $111 million figure. Although dated February 2012,
the Air Force has not provided the report to Congress. Defense News obtained a copy of the 13-page
report on March 19.
The Air Force called that assessment a “draft report” that was prepared by a Pentagon action officer
last fall and “pre-dated” for release in February 2012, according to Kevin Williams, deputy director of
the Air Force’s studies and analyses, assessments and lessons learned directorate (A-9).
“As it went through the coordination process, it became apparent that the initial number, $111M was
incorrect,” Williams wrote in a statement provided by a service spokeswoman. “A more current,
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updated version of this document is almost fully coordinated and we expect to send it to Congress in
the near future.”
Asked about the lower $111 million lifecycle cost estimate during a March 16 briefing at the
Pentagon, Williams told reporters and think tank analysts that any reference to that number was
“preliminary” and possibly from a “piece of staff work from last fall, where some things were being
bounced around.”
“$111 [million] has never been published by anybody in A-9,” he said last week. “It doesn’t exist in
any formal, authorized, signed document.”
Still, three separate Air Force reports show a nearly $200 million difference in opinion.
The large discrepancy between the numbers in the three reports have left lawmakers scratching their
heads and questioning the reliability of the lifecycle estimates of the C-27J, an aircraft built to shuttle
troops and supplies around the battlefield.
“What I’ve seen trickle out of the Air Force over the past six weeks is confusing to say the least,” Sen.
Rob Portman, R-Ohio, said during the hearing. “That data has been inadequate, inconsistent. It’s left
us all with more questions than answers.”
The Ohio National Guard operates the C-27J and has deployed with the aircraft to Afghanistan.
While the Air Force cites the $308 million figure, an Air Force background paper states one C-27J
aircraft will cost $270 million per aircraft. If operated like C-130s, the C-27J could cost as little as
$166 million per aircraft.
And yet the newly unveiled draft cost benefit analysis, which the Air Force says was written in the fall,
compares the C-27J to the C-130H. The document notes that the $111 million estimate represents
“best case” scenarios, when the aircraft is operated like a C-130. The “Air Force Service Cost
Position” — which factors in different crew ratios, maintenance, flying hours and basing — could top
$200 million.
At the March 20 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Schwartz said the C-27J flying hour cost
is much higher because contractors maintain the aircraft. The Air Force maintains the C-130.
“There’s a considerable difference in relative expense there that goes into the flying hour calculation,”
Schwartz said.
However, Air National Guard and industry officials say the C-27Js that have been flying in
Afghanistan since last year have used only a small fraction of the more than $60 million in spare parts
the unit deployed with the aircraft. Only about $200,000 has been used, according to these sources.
Also, a November 2011 Air Mobility Master Plan — developed by Air Mobility Command, the division
of the Air Force that oversees cargo and tanker aircraft — states the “C-27J training and sustainment
(supply chain and maintenance) strategies were assessed by a business case analysis to provide the
best value approach for the suitable solutions between organic and contractor support.”
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The Air Force has not publicly released the document, which describes the C-27J as “an efficient tool
to deliver smaller loads within the Joint Operations Area.”
The lifecycle cost estimates were first questioned by Ohio National Guard Capt. Dave Lohrer, who
conducted his own assessment, which disputed the Air Force’s personnel and maintenance
projections. Lohrer briefed congressional staffers on his work last week.
Defense News reported Lohrer’s findings on March 12. Since then, the Air Force has questioned his
metrics.
“We got the pros, the experts, who actually said, ‘No, that’s not right,’” Williams said last week.
Still, the Air Force has not provided the metrics it used to develop the $308 million C-27J lifecycle
cost estimates.
RETURN
B6
New U.S. Base Closing Round Unlikely: Levin
(Defense News, 20 Mar 12) … Weisgerber
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120320/DEFREG02/303200008/New-U-S-Base-Closing-Round-Unlikely-Levin?odyssey=nav%7Chead
A powerful U.S. senator that oversees defense spending predicts Congress will not authorize a round
of domestic base closures.
“I predict it’s not going to happen,” Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., said after a Senate Armed Services
Committee hearing on March 20 when asked about the possibility of lawmakers authorizing a Base
Realignment and Closure (BRAC) commission.
“I don’t think there’s much support for another BRAC round here at all,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of
support for looking overseas, particularly in European facilities.”
In its 2013 budget request, the Defense Department has asked Congress to authorize two rounds of
BRAC.
“If it’s not in the authorization, it won’t happen,” Levin said referring to the 2013 defense authorization
bill, which his committee is responsible for crafting.
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B7
GOP budget plan may avoid sweeping cuts
(Air Force Times, 20 Mar 12) … Rick Maze
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/03/military-gop-budget-plan-may-avoid-sweeping-cuts-032012w/
There is no extra money for defense in the House Republican budget plan unveiled Tuesday, but
there may be an escape hatch from the damaging across-the-board budget cuts looming for January.
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Under the budget blueprint that includes tax cuts and deep reductions in spending on domestic
discretionary programs, the budget prepared by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., caps defense spending for
fiscal 2013 at $554 billion in the base budget and $88 billion for overseas contingencies.
Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, essentially approved what the Obama
administration requested, which also is the amount set by the Budget Control Act of 2011. The
Congressional Budget Office, the nonpartisan analytical arm of Congress, estimates that the basic
2013 defense budget requested by the Obama administration would cost $552 billion while the White
House’s Office of Management and Budget estimates the cost at $555 billion.
Ryan’s recommendation, far from the final word on the budget, takes the middle ground in a
Republican tug-of-war between defense hawks who want to reverse the $465 billion in defense cuts
being made over the next 10 years, and fiscal hawks who want deeper cuts in federal spending,
including defense.
Ryan’s plan proposes a way out of the sequestration order that is supposed to be issued in January
to begin the automatic cuts of $1.2 trillion in federal spending, a process resulting from the failure last
year to reach a deficit reduction agreement.
Ryan proposes cuts in federal entitlements, such as Medicare, to cover part of the $1.2 trillion and
would order House committees to come up with specific proposals in their area of jurisdiction to save
the rest. Additional cuts in defense spending would not be required under the Ryan plan, which
exempts military from having to find savings.
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CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THE NUCLEAR ENTERPRISE
N1
Pentagon Undecided on Nuclear Warhead for New Cruise Missile
(Global Security Newswire, 20 Mar 12) … Elaine M. Grossman
http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/pentagon-undecided-nuclear-warhead-new-cruise-missile/
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Defense Department has yet to determine which nuclear warhead will be
fielded on a weapon that replaces the 1980s-vintage Air Launched Cruise Missile, according to
Pentagon and combatant command officials (see GSN, Feb. 24).
Defense officials are “carrying out an Analysis of Alternatives to be completed this fall for an ALCM
follow-on system,” John Harvey, a Pentagon nuclear force official, said last month. “Plans are to
sustain the ALCM and the W-80 warhead, [the] ALCM warhead,” until the new missile, the LongRange Stand-Off weapon, “can be fielded,” he said.
Manufactured between 1979 and 1990, the cruise missile’s W-80 warhead is deployed aboard 85
nonstealthy Air Force B-52 bombers to give the 1960s-era planes an ability to launch nuclear
weapons without having to enter heavily defended airspace. The warhead has a variable explosive
power of 5 to 150 kilotons, or roughly one-third to 10 times the yield of the nuclear weapon dropped
on Hiroshima.
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The Pentagon had earlier planned a major overhaul of the warhead to extend its service life, a recent
Congressional Research Service report states. Initial studies were to begin in late fiscal 2029. By
2039, the W-80 nuclear explosive package and firing set would have received a major refurbishment,
according to fiscal 2008 charts prepared by the Energy Department’s nuclear security agency.
However, it appears that the plans for W-80 life extension have been suspended, if not outright
canceled. A Senate appropriations bill in June 2006 said “W-80 life-extension activities” were “no
longer supported by the Nuclear Weapons Council and the Department of Defense,” and as a result
Congress ceased funding for them.
At the time, the Pentagon and the joint Energy-Defense Department council anticipated that a version
of the new “Reliable Replacement Warhead,” optimized for cruise missiles, would be designed and
built.
However, upon taking office, President Obama canceled his predecessor’s program to build new
nuclear warheads, siding with critics who argued that the stockpile could instead be kept viable for
years to come without introducing new weapons (see GSN, Aug. 19, 2009).
Defense and Energy leaders “were wiling to sacrifice the W-80 [life-extension effort] when they
thought they could get the RRW,” said Hans Kristensen, who directs the Nuclear Information Program
at the Federation of American Scientists. “Now they can’t get the RRW,” he said.
That means the administration must instead “explore the use of existing warheads” for the future
cruise missile, Harvey said last month in a speech at a nuclear weapons symposium.
The Air Force plans to retain today’s Air Launched Cruise Missiles through 2030, according to fiscal
2013 budget documents. Current expectations are, though, that the workhorse B-52 bomber will
remain flying at least a decade longer -- “beyond the year 2040,” the Air Force says.
Harvey suggested that the LRSO weapon is needed to ensure that the aging Stratofortress bomber
can retain its stand-off nuclear capability after today’s Air Launched Cruise Missile becomes obsolete
or is retired. The missile has a range of more than 1,500 miles.
“Modern air defenses put the bomber stand-off mission with ALCM, the current strategic cruise
missile deployed with the [B-52] bomber, increasingly at risk,” he said on Feb. 15 at the Arlington,
Va., event.
The Air Launched Cruise Missile for now is undergoing a maintenance program to keep it functioning
properly, according to the Air Force. Roughly 1,140 of the cruise missile’s nuclear version, the AGM86B, are fielded in today’s arsenal.
At the same time, the Analysis of Alternatives currently under way is aimed at determining what
capabilities and technologies would be appropriate for the Long-Range Stand-Off weapon. Fiscal
2013 budget plans include more than $600 million for development of the future cruise missile over
the next five years.
If no major overhaul is presently planned that would extend the W-80’s service life, what nuclear
warhead would go aboard the new Long-Range Stand-Off cruise missile?
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“The DOD has not ruled in or out a life extension program for the W-80, the decision has not been
made,” Navy Capt. Jeff Bender, a U.S. Strategic Command spokesman, said last week in response to
queries. Based in Omaha, Neb., Strategic Command determines military requirements for nuclear
weapons and would take responsibility for them if ever used in combat.
“The W-80 is one of three candidate warheads for the future Long-Range Stand-Off missile,” Bender
stated by e-mail. “If the W-80 is selected for the LRSO weapon system, it will require a life-extension
program in the future.”
A major warhead life-extension effort of this kind would require about a decade’s advance notice, so
that design studies and preparations could be carried out, Thomas D’Agostino, who heads the
National Nuclear Security Administration, told reporters on March 8.
Harvey -- who serves as principal deputy assistant Defense secretary for nuclear, chemical and
biological defense programs -- said another candidate warhead for the new cruise missile is the B-61,
several variants of which are fitted on gravity bombs and are now being readied for service life
extension (see GSN, March 15).
The first life-extended B-61 warhead should be available by 2019, according to D’Agostino.
Kristensen said the bomb warhead’s potential use on a new cruise missile, though, would be likely to
require significant additional modifications and flight testing.
The third warhead alternative for the new cruise missile, Harvey said, is the W-84, which was
designed in the late 1970s for use on the since-banned Ground-Launched Cruise Missile. The W-84
is a B-61 derivative that is closely related in design to the W-80.
Which warhead is ultimately selected for the cruise missile replacement could depend on a variety of
factors, Kristensen said. Some warheads feature more modern security devices -- such as
“permissive action links” that require secret codes before activating -- or nuclear explosive cores that
resist accidental ignition if caught in a blaze.
“If safety and security are the issue, they would use the W-84 because it has the best permissive
action link and fire-resistant pit,” said Kristensen, comparing it to the W-80 and B-61.
All three of the potential LRSO warheads use insensitive high explosives, a key safety feature that
make warheads less likely to detonate if accidentally dropped or hit with a bullet, for example,
according to the Washington-based analyst.
Kristensen opined, though, that Defense and Energy officials seem to be asking the wrong question.
“One can always fiddle with whether it’s necessary to use this or that warhead. But my fundamental
question is whether it’s necessary to have a nuclear-armed cruise missile,” he said in a Monday
telephone interview. Today’s Air Launched Cruise Missile has conventional as well as nuclear
variants.
“Given the overwhelming capability that we have in the highly accurate, long-range ballistic missile
force -- and the gravity bombs that can also be delivered by aircraft -- it’s hard for me to see why an
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air-delivered nuclear cruise missile is needed, as well, in this day and age,” Kristensen said. “If the
mission is deterrence, then it’s clearly not needed.”
The Air Force, by contrast, sees the new weapon system as central to its ability to carry out its
nuclear responsibilities.
“The LRSO weapon system will be capable of penetrating and surviving advanced integrated air
defense systems from significant stand-off range to prosecute strategic targets in support of the Air
Force's global attack capability and strategic deterrence core function,” the service stated in fiscal
2013 budget documents, submitted to Congress last month.
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N2
Obama's Nonproliferation Initiatives Seen Losing Steam
(Global Security Newswire, 20 Mar 12) … Unattributed
http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/obamas-atomic-initiatives-seen-losing-steam/
President Obama's bid to pursue a nuclear weapon-free world and counter the threat of nucleararmed extremists has foundered following early successes, and the intensifying U.S. electoral race
diminishes the likelihood of significant new accomplishments by his administration in either area,
Reuters reported on Tuesday (see GSN, Sept. 30, 2011).
Obama's past steps have included restricting the circumstances under which the United States could
employ its atomic arsenal in conflict, as well as shepherding to ratification a strategic nuclear arms
control treaty with Russia (see GSN, March 15). The president's administration is now formulating
potential steps for further reducing the size of the U.S. nuclear stockpile (see GSN, Feb. 15).
Some foreign policy hard-liners consider a number of Obama's atomic policies to be political
weaknesses in this year's presidential campaign (see GSN, Feb. 21).
"Instead of dealing with real nuclear threats like Iran and North Korea, he's going to magic shows and
talking about a world without nuclear weapons, which would be a much less safe world for the United
States," former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said.
"The nuclear-free vision thing has run up against facts on the ground," added one independent
consultant to the White House on security issues. "So, for now, there's going to be an abundance of
talk and not much serious action."
In addition, the administration's "weak" commitment to previous promises on updating the nation's
nuclear weapons complex could complicate efforts to win legislative approval for a second nuclear
arms control pact, Senator Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) said.
Efforts to contain atomic activities in Iran and North Korea have eclipsed Obama's plans for
preventing extremists from obtaining weapon-usable nuclear substances, according to Reuters.
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The U.S. president convened the first Nuclear Security Summit in the second year of his term, and
issue specialists said governments are generally following through on commitments made at the
event, though many such pledges are relatively minor in nature (see GSN, March 19).
Additional pledges are anticipated from multiple nations at the second nuclear summit slated to take
place next week in South Korea, but major advancements at the forum are improbable, U.S.
government sources said. "It's (going to be) a bit of a report card and also figuring out what has to be
prioritized," one high-level insider stated.
Doubts persist over the call at the 2010 meeting to lock down all sensitive atomic substances on
Earth within four years, and nonproliferation advocates have called for nonbinding pledges to be
rendered mandatory.
Last month, Obama incensed nonproliferation proponents by seeking funding curbs to two nuclear
security initiatives.
His fiscal 2013 budget request would provide $466 million for the Global Threat Reduction Initiative,
which aims to secure, relocate or convert vulnerable nuclear material from civilian sites around the
world. The funding level represents a $32 million drop, and his spending projections for the four
coming years total $500 million less than estimates for the same period in his fiscal 2012 proposal
(see GSN, March 7).
The consummation of an update to Russian atomic support systems and elimination of Russian
sensitive substances account in part for the smaller funding request, according to one high-level
Obama administration insider.
In addition, the International Nuclear Materials Protection and Cooperation Program would receive
only $311 million, a $259 million cut from present funding levels (Spetalnick/Bull, Reuters, March 20).
The Washington-based Arms Control Association on Monday countered arguments that the Obama
administration has not met its nuclear modernization promises.
Obama in 2010 unveiled a 10-year, $85 billion nuclear weapons spending plan amid efforts to secure
Senate ratification of the New START treaty with Russia. The accord passed with support from 13
GOP lawmakers and entered into force last year.
Critics have noted that spending estimates from 2010 are not reflected in the administration's budget
proposal for the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1.
"That is the wrong metric to use," the Arms Control Association said on Monday. "What really matters
is whether the resources are adequate for the stockpile stewardship activities that maintain the
effectiveness of the existing U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. At well over $7 billion per year, the
nuclear weapons labs have more than enough to get the job done."
In making its case, the organization also noted the effect on government spending of the deficitcutting Budget Control Act and noted that the administration is seeking $7.6 billion for stockpile
operations at the National Nuclear Security Administration, the semiautonomous Energy Department
branch charged with maintaining the U.S. nuclear arsenal. That amount is $1.2 billion higher than the
amount appropriated in fiscal 2010, according to the Arms Control Association.
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It also noted that the fiscal 2013 budget request seeks hundreds of millions of dollars for programs to
prepare new bombers, ICBMs and other nuclear-weapon delivery systems (Collina/Kimball, Arms
Control Association, March 19).
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N3
Medvedev Says Russian Military Must Ready Response to U.S. Missile Shield
(Global Security Newswire, 20 Mar 12) … Unattributed
http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/medvedev-says-russian-military-must-prepare-response-us-missile-shield/
Outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday said the nation's armed forces must move
to respond to a U.S. effort to deploy missile interceptors in Europe, the Associated Press reported
(see GSN, March 19).
Moscow "isn't shutting the door to dialogue" with Washington but it has become necessary to prepare
a military response to U.S.-led NATO efforts to establish a ballistic missile shield, Medvedev said to
senior Russian officers.
The Obama administration is implementing a "phased adaptive approach" that involves the fielding
between now and 2020 of increasingly sophisticated sea- and land-based missile interceptors around
Europe. That plan forms the core of a wider NATO effort to link up and augment individual member
nations' antimissile capabilities. Washington and Brussels have repeatedly said the purpose of the
missile shield is to defeat a feared ballistic missile attack from the Middle East. They have sought to
persuade Russia to join their effort.
The Kremlin, though, suspects future-generation U.S. interceptors would be aimed at undermining its
long-range nuclear deterrent and has demanded a legally binding guarantee that this would not be
the case. Washington has repeatedly refused this request even as it has signed deals with Poland,
Romania, and Spain to host interceptors and established a long-range radar base in Turkey.
"By 2017-2018 we must be fully prepared, fully armed," Medvedev said in broadcast remarks.
That time frame corresponds to the third phase of the Obama administration's missile shield plan,
which calls for deployment in Europe of interceptors capable of eliminating short-, medium- and
intermediate-range missiles.
Medvedev previously threatened to deploy air defenses and short-range missiles in Russia's
Kaliningrad region if no compromise is reached with the United States.
"Even though the talks are ongoing, we must get ready for a serious rearming of the armed forces so
that we could be in a due shape and capable to respond to the missile defense in Europe," Medvedev
said (Vladimir Isachenkov, Associated Press/Yahoo!News, March 20).
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Tuesday that the Western military bloc's
antimissile plans jeopardize continued military parity between the former Cold War rivals, ITAR-Tass
reported.
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"Deploying elements of the global missile defense system considerably disrupts the established
balance of forces and strategic stability in general," the defense chief said to ministry personnel.
"The tendency towards an escalation of tensions along the perimeter of our borders increases the risk
of Russia's being involved in various armed conflicts," Serdyukov said (ITAR-Tass I, March 20).
The Russian military has started putting in place "military-technical measures" authorized by
Medvedev as a response to the U.S.-NATO missile shield, ITAR-Tass quoted him as saying.
Serdyukov, though, emphasized that "we are ready to continue the dialogue." Russia intends to hold
a multinational antimissile forum on May 3-4 to address its stand on the matter, he said (ITAR-Tass II,
March 20).
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Monday said Russia's incoming president,
Vladimir Putin, might not be prepared to take part in a May summit with NATO heads of state in
Chicago as he will only have only retaken the job weeks earlier, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported.
Putin, Russia's current prime minister, was recently elected to a third term as president.
"I think a possible NATO-Russia summit will very much depend on progress on missile defense, but
maybe also on the whole calendar," Rasmussen told DPA. "Their new president will not be
inaugurated until the beginning of May, so Russia has a very busy political calendar and that may
also have an impact on this whole process, including the possibility of having a NATO-Russia
meeting in Chicago."
The high-profile NATO meeting is slated to take place from May 20-21 (Deutsche PresseAgentur/Europe Online Magazine, March 19).
U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul discussed antimissile differences and other issues with
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin on Monday, Voice of Russia reported (Voice of Russia, March
19).
Meanwhile, Serdyukov announced that trials have begun for a new advanced radar unit established
in Irkutsk, ITAR-Tass reported.
The long-range Voronezh-class radar can simultaneously track about 500 targets at ranges of up to
3,725 miles, according to previous reports (ITAR-Tass III, March 20).
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PARTNER WITH JOINT AND COALITION TEAM TO WIN TODAY’S FIGHT
P1
Months Before Any Decision on Afghan Drawdown: U.S.
(Agence France-Presse, 20 Mar 12) … Unattributed
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120320/DEFREG02/303200005/Months-Before-Any-Decision-Afghan-Drawdown-U-S-?odyssey=nav%7Chead
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WASHINGTON - The U.S. commander in Afghanistan said March 20 that he would not issue a
recommendation on the pace of troop drawdown for several months, despite calls in Washington to
speed withdrawal after a series of damaging incidents in the war.
Gen. John Allen acknowledged the NATO-led mission faced a “trying” time but insisted the fight
against Taliban insurgents was “on track” while avoiding a discussion on the possible timetable for a
troop drawdown.
The U.S. force of nearly 90,000 is due to be scaled back to 68,000 by the end of September,
coinciding with the close of the “fighting season” before the start of winter.
But President Barack Obama has yet to announce how many boots will stay on the ground next year
amid a debate inside the White House on the war and growing pressure on the left in Congress for a
faster exit.
Allen told the House Armed Services Committee that once American reinforcements were pulled out
as planned at the end of September, he would assess what force levels would be needed in 2013 and
2014 and make his proposal for a troop drawdown schedule to the White House before the end of the
year.
The general said “before the end of 2012 I intend to provide through my chain of command to the
president a series of recommendations on the kind of combat power that I’ll need for 2013 and 2014.
“I don’t have a decision at this point.”
The bulk of U.S. and allied combat forces are due to withdraw by the end of 2014 when Afghan forces
are supposed to take over security for the whole country.
The commander of U.S. and NATO troops also said he had not made up his mind whether he would
recommend an offensive in eastern Afghanistan, which officials had long suggested would follow up
operations in the south.
“I’ve not made a final decision at this point. We anticipate shifting resources to the east in any case
because it remains there that the principal COIN (counterinsurgency) fight will ultimately be shaped in
2012,” he said.
Allen said the Taliban had been rolled back in its spiritual heartland in the mainly Pashtun southern
provinces and that coalition forces would focus on consolidating those battlefield gains.
While the eastern region was important, Allen said “my number one goal will be to continue to deny
the enemy access back into the key terrain of this insurgency which is the Pashtun population ... in
the south.”
His comments are likely to fuel speculation about future troop levels, as a faster drawdown would
preclude any push in the east.
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Pakistan Panel Demands U.S. Apology for Deadly Airstrike
(Agence France-Presse, 20 Mar 12) … Khurram Shahzad
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120320/DEFREG03/303200004/Pakistan-Panel-Demands-U-S-Apology-Deadly-Airstrike?odyssey=nav%7Chead
ISLAMABAD - Pakistani lawmakers demanded an American apology and taxes on NATO convoys in
recommendations put to parliament March 20 in a key step towards repairing a major crisis in
relations with the U.S.
Parliament will debate the recommendations next week in a probable precursor to reopening NATO
supply lines into Afghanistan suspended for nearly four months and to putting the Pakistani-U.S.
alliance on a more pragmatic footing.
Islamabad closed its Afghan border to NATO after U.S. airstrikes killed 24 soldiers in November,
plunging relations with Washington to an all-time low after Pakistan was humiliated by a U.S. raid that
killed Osama bin Laden in May.
Pakistan was incensed by the American refusal to apologize for the Nov. 26 killings and besides
shutting its border, ordered U.S. personnel to leave a base reportedly used in America’s drone war
against al-Qaida and the Taliban.
But the anger has dissipated and experts expect the alliance to be re-crafted along more pragmatic
lines involving fewer U.S. drone strikes against Islamist militants in Pakistan and hopes of Pakistan
facilitating Afghan peace efforts.
“Pakistan wants to pursue good relations with every country. Pakistan also wants to pursue its own
national interest,” Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar told reporters.
The military is considered the chief arbiter of foreign policy but many see the parliamentary debate as
setting a vital precedent by consulting elected political leaders, if only to protect the military from later
recriminations.
“This is the first time that the parliament of Pakistan has been given responsibility to frame foreign
policy,” said Senator Raza Rabbani, head of the parliamentary committee on national security that
drew up the recommendations.
The document calls the November strikes a “blatant violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty” and said
Islamabad should seek “an unconditional apology from the U.S. for the unprovoked incident”.
It said “taxes and other charges must be levied on all goods importing in or transiting through
Pakistan” — which experts have estimated could amount to $1 million a day — and, in a sub clause,
an end to American drone strikes.
Drone strikes are resented in Pakistan as violations of sovereignty, despite the fact that they have at
times worked in Islamabad’s favor, such as killing Pakistani Taliban founder Baitullah Mehsud in
August 2009.
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In a sign that Pakistanis are keen to put the relationship onto a clearer footing, the recommendations
rule out verbal agreements with the United States and said any such agreement “should be reduced
to writing immediately.”
It was a veiled reference to former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who signed Pakistan up as an ally
to the war on terror, and to revelations in leaked American cables that the government had quietly
approved drone strikes.
Parliament will start to debate the recommendations on March 26, after the leader of the opposition,
Chaudhry Nisar, demanded time to assess the document.
“This parliament has passed two resolutions against the drone strikes but no one listened to it. What
is the guarantee that there will be no back-tracking on this resolution?” Nisar said.
The recommendations backed peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan saying there was “no
military solution” to the Afghan conflict.
The United States has called on Pakistan to play a constructive role in nascent peace efforts in
Afghanistan, where its support is considered vital given its history of relations with Taliban insurgents.
Pakistan has long accused the United States of taking its support in the war for granted and the
parliamentary panel called on the international community to recognize the country’s “colossal human
and economic losses”.
It said Pakistan was committed to fighting terror and indicated that foreign boots on Pakistani soil
were a red line — despite the bin Laden raid and occasions in which U.S. forces have crossed the
border from Afghanistan.
The United States sent its condolences over the November air strikes, but stopped short of an
apology. NATO expressed regret over what it called a “tragic unintended incident.”
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P3
Afghan VP says deal with U.S. will respect sovereignty
(AP, 20 Mar 12) … Unattributed
http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/world/story/Afghan-VP-says-deal-with-U-S-will-respect/2f0rVgroIkeRIfwkTsKGFA.cspx
MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan - Afghanistan's vice president says that any long-term military
agreement with the United States will respect his nation's sovereignty and will be based on the
interests of both countries.
First Vice President Mohammad Qasim Fahim made the pledge on Tuesday in an address to
Afghans celebrating the Persian new year, or Nowruz.
Fahim also called on neighboring countries to recognize that stability in Afghanistan will benefit the
entire region. Fahim is one of two vice presidents serving under President Hamid Karzai.
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Kabul and Washington are currently negotiating a deal on how international forces conduct night raids
in Afghanistan. The Afghan government has said that deal must be signed before the broader
partnership agreement.
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P4
Air combat in Afghanistan plummets
February lowest in at least four years
(San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar 12) … Gretel C. Kovach
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/mar/20/air-combat-afghanistan-plummets/
February was the calmest month for air forces operating in Afghanistan in at least three years,
according to the latest air power report by U.S. Air Forces Central Command.
Air crews fired 99 weapons that month supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and the International
Security Assistance Force -- the U.S.-led NATO command in Afghanistan, the report distributed
Monday night says.
It includes monthly air power tallies back to January 2009 from the Combined Forces Air Component
Commander. The busiest month in that period was October 2010, when there were 1,043 releases of
rockets, missiles, bombs, bullets and other weapons.
The heaviest year for air combat in Afghanistan was 2010, when combined forces flew 1,816 armed
sorties and released 5,101 weapons. In 2011 there were 1,675 armed sorties and 4,896 weapons
releases, according to air power summary data.
The attack air fleet includes jets and other planes, helicopters and remotely piloted drone aircraft,
among other platforms.
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P5
Afghan intel service: No torture at our prisons
(AP, 20 Mar 12) … Heidi Vogt
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/03/ap-afghan-intel-official-no-torture-at-our-prisons-032012/
KABUL, Afghanistan - The Afghan intelligence service rejected findings Tuesday by international and
Afghan rights groups that abuse has gone unchecked at some of its prisons.
The denial issued by the National Directorate of Security was the latest salvo in a dispute about
conditions at Afghan prisons that has been raging since the U.N. first documented torture last year,
and which is likely to become even more important as the U.S. moves to transfer its detention
operations to Afghan authorities in coming months.
NATO and U.S. forces stopped transferring their battlefield detainees to 16 Afghan prisons in July
after the U.N. found evidence of torture at the facilities.
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The report by the Open Society Institute and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission
suggested that external pressure had done little to stop this practice.
The groups said they found evidence that abuse including the beating of prisoners and the
administration of shocks with electric cables was still going on at one of the 16 prisons — an
intelligence-run facility in Kandahar — and was also happening at other facilities in the country. The
report also said the U.S. government had sent detainees to the Kandahar facility since the
moratorium.
"Monitors received 10 credible allegations of abuse in NDS Kandahar as recently as January 2012,"
the report said.
The National Directorate of Security said the allegations were based on second-hand reports and
could not be trusted.
"Based on our analysis and our documentation these findings are not correct. We strongly reject this
report and its allegations are baseless," the NDS said in a statement.
The rights groups' report, which was issued quietly and without a press conference over the weekend,
has only started to provoke public responses in recent days.
Western officials speaking on condition of anonymity said members of the Afghan rights commission
wanted to avoid too much publicity out of fears that the government would either shut off all access to
the prisons or come after the commissioners themselves. In December, three of the most outspoken
members of the commission were removed from their positions without explanation.
In what appeared to be a move to soothe tensions, the commission posted an "update" to the report
on its website that noted that it had found improvements to prison conditions in many provinces,
though not in Kandahar.
The statement says the commission "hopes that the present improvement obtained in the situation of
NDS facilities will be expanded to Kandahar province."
Since the U.N. findings, NATO and U.S. forces have resumed sending detainees to some Afghan
prisons that they say have put in place adequate reforms, but the Kandahar facility is not among
these.
A spokesman for NATO and U.S. forces said that they have now halted prisoner transfers to the four
additional facilities flagged by Saturday's report.
"Upon learning of any potential abuses of human rights in detention facilities we are committed to
immediately accessing the accuracies of the allegations and potentially halting transfers where
appropriate," said Lt. Col. Jimmie Cummings.
The report, called "Torture, Transfers, and Denial of Due Process," also charged that the U.S.
government had continued to send some of its detainees to a prison in Kandahar that had been
flagged by the U.N. despite the moratorium.
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The suggestion was that other arms of the U.S. government, such as the Central Intelligence Agency,
had sent detainees to a prison known for torture.
"The U.S. embassy is working closely with Afghan officials on implementing a monitoring program for
U.S.-transferred detainees," Cummings said, referring queries on U.S. government-held detainees to
the embassy.
"We take that allegation seriously and we're looking into it," said Gavin Sundwall, a spokesman for
the U.S. embassy in Kabul.
RETURN
DEVELOP AND CARE FOR AIRMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES
D1
Families on front line of soldiers' distress
(Seattle Times, 20 Mar 12) … Lornet Turnbull
http://www.stripes.com/news/families-on-front-line-of-soldiers-distress-1.172170
It started with the nightmares - middle-of-the-night eruptions when her fiancé would jolt her awake
with his screams, his body drenched in sweat.
Renee Paxton watched as the outgoing, quick-witted man she loved and would later marry slowly
came undone.
A load master in the Air Force Reserve with 240 combat missions into Afghanistan and Iraq, Rick
Paxton stopped eating, stopped seeing friends. Loud noises spooked him; the American flag flying on
a building stopped him dead in his tracks. He hardly left the house.
The 49-year-old became combative at the very suggestion that Renee Paxton get them help, worried
that revealing his troubles would jeopardize his chances to advance after 25 years of service.
"He said, 'We don't talk about this,' " she recalled. "Military people push that stuff to a different part of
their brain."
But the fear that is keeping soldiers from seeking help for their mental wounds is also tying the hands
of those closest to them — the silence like a fence around the family.
"Often they are living in fear, silently, like women in domestic violence," said Jennifer Ferguson, a
licensed marriage and family therapist who worked for a year in a post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) program at Madigan Army Medical Center south of Tacoma.
One in five U.S. soldiers coming back from war in Iraq and Afghanistan have signs of PTSD or other
mental distress, studies show.
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Several recent high-profile acts of violence allegedly involving active or former soldiers at Joint Base
Lewis-McChord (JBLM) are focusing increased attention on what can go wrong for soldiers both in
the war zone and after they come home.
Among the cases are a growing number of suicides, the murder in January of a ranger at Mount
Rainier National Park, the murder-suicide last April involving a combat medic who led police on a
high-speed chase down Interstate 5 and, a week ago Sunday, the slaughter of 16 unarmed civilians
in Afghanistan, allegedly at the hands of JBLM Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, who was on his fourth tour of
duty.
While a full mental-health evaluation of Bales will be undertaken in coming days or weeks, his
defense team has brought in a forensic psychiatrist specializing in PTSD.
And Bales' wife, in a statement Monday expressing condolences to the families of the victims, spoke
of her own family's trauma "as we try to make sense of something that makes no sense at all."
Career concerns
When a soldier suffers from PTSD, families, particularly spouses such as Paxton, are on the front line
of it, among the first to notice the shift in behavior — anxiety, mood swings, what counselors call the
night terrors.
But, Ferguson said, "a lot of times the soldiers don't want them to seek help. If they are on active duty
they worry their careers will be destroyed."
So some families and spouses slog through this minefield on their own, or depend on close relatives
and friends.
While there are outside support groups and programs that can help while protecting the identity of
service members, some families say what they really need is to change the military mindset about
getting treatment.
Patricia Bailey, who worked part time in a behavioral-health program at Lewis-McChord in the mid2000s, has been circulating a petition urging the military to adopt a policy to ensure that service
members' careers won't be jeopardized if they seek mental-health help.
She believes her ex-husband was reluctant to get the help he needed for his anger and anxiety after
deployments to Asia and the Middle East because he was worried it would affect his career.
The Pentagon has said that soldiers won't be penalized for seeking help, but Bailey believes that in
the absence of a specific policy, service members who need treatment won't seek it.
One veteran who now provides private counseling for families of service members suffering from
PTSD said in the decades since he retired, "the military has changed a little bit, but not that much."
He recalled how an Army general who came to Lewis-McChord during the 2000s and talked about his
own battle with PTSD changed the tenor of the conversation around the disorder.
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"Prior to that," said the counselor, who asked that his name not be used to ensure confidentiality for
his clients, "the military considered it a personal issue; get over it. During my time in the service, if I
went to a mental-health person, that would be enough to end my career."
Now, he said, "that person is more likely to get help. Still, people are not looked at the same way
once they do."
And from top brass to the lowest-ranked soldier, "no one wants to talk about it."
"No instant solution"
At Lewis-McChord, families can access a range of programs that help with marital and relationship
problems, that offer services for children and adolescents and that provide counseling.
But there are no programs specifically tailored to help the families of soldiers suffering from PTSD.
The vet and counselor pointed out that each case is unique. "There's no protocol to deal with all the
different aspects of what families will go through," he said.
It's possible to reduce and manage symptoms with proper therapy, along with support from loved
ones, he said. He knows this not just professionally but personally, too, having suffered through them
himself.
"I know they can come back from it," he said. "You don't do it with pills; there's no instant solution. It
takes time. ... Just know that the person is going to be changed."
In the end some couples struggling under the nightmarish symptoms don't make it, especially
younger ones. Unable to cope with a spouse who bears little resemblance to the person they married,
they often give up and walk way.
Debbi Fisher, co-founder of Rainier Therapeutic Riding in Yelm, which provides a riding program as
therapy for PTSD-diagnosed servicemen and women, said 75 to 80 percent of married clients in the
program are going through divorce.
"It's hard for me to see the younger wives give up on their men or the other way around," she said.
But Renee Paxton, 44, whose husband has seen some positive results from participating in Fisher's
horse-riding program, said she never considered giving up on him even as his behavior continued to
confound her.
His missions into combat zones often involved bringing out the flag-draped caskets, and injured and
dying comrades. Paxton first began noticing changes in him about two years ago — in early 2010 —
when they were still engaged. He lost interest in most things, grew solemn and irritable. The sight of
raw meat so unnerved him, she'd have to cover it if it was defrosting on the counter. She came to
recognize his symptoms as similar to those of her father, who had served in Vietnam.
In September 2010, he stuck a gun in his mouth but didn't pull the trigger because he later told her he
didn't want her to discover him that way.
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She learned about that incident only after a Vietnam veteran friend of a friend came to talk to him,
eventually convincing him to seek help.
The Vietnam vet told him, "You'll lose everything; it's your wings or your life."
Rick Paxton was admitted to Madigan and spent eight days in a psychiatric ward. He was released
after eight days and declared "fit to fly."
But he never again did.
A year later he was diagnosed with PTSD, depression and other mental disorders.
In December 2010, at a small, intimate ceremony attended by close family and friends, Renee and
Rick kept their promise to each other and were married.
After all they'd been through together, Renee Paxton said she was not about to give up on him.
"I love him," she said, "and I'm fighting for him."
RETURN
D2
Veterans panel will leave empty chair for MIAs
(Air Force Times, 20 Mar 12) … Rick Maze
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/03/military-veterans-panel-will-leave-empty-chair-missing-in-action-032012w/
The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee will leave one empty, flag-draped chair in the front row of its
hearings starting Thursday in memory of the 83,455 service members still listed as missing in action.
The practice of leaving an empty chair for missing service members is used by some veterans’
organizations. The American Legion, the nation’s largest veterans group, has an empty chair, or
empty chair and table, at many ceremonial events.
POW/MIA remembrance flags are posted outside the offices of many lawmakers and a flag is posted
daily in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, but having an empty chair set aside directly behind the
witness table in a committee hearing room is a new and dramatically different step.
Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman, who made the decision to
dedicate one chair for MIAs in an often crowded hearing room in the Cannon House Office Building,
is expected to announce his move Wednesday morning at a joint House-Senate hearing where eight
veterans organizations will testify about their legislative priorities for the fiscal 2013 budget.
The empty chair “is a reminder to all of us to honor those who have yet to come home,” Miller said,
calling the hearing room a “fitting location” because it is a room “that is the voice of our veterans, their
families, and survivors.”
The first public hearing with the POW/MIA chair on display will be on Thursday, when another eight
military and veterans groups testify on the 2013 budget.
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The bulk of the service members listed as unaccounted for by the Defense Department are from the
World War II era. Of the 83,455 service members counted by the Defense Department as MIA,
73,690 are from World War II, 7,960 from the Korean War, 1,677 from the Vietnam War, 126 from the
Cold War and two from the 1991 Gulf War.
DoD continues to locate and identify remains of missing service members from past conflicts. Since
Jan. 1, DoD has announced the identification of 14 missing service members, with the most recent
being two Army veterans captured in 1950 and held as prisoners of war. Their remains were
recovered in North Korea.
In February, defense officials announced the identification of the remains of Army Staff Sgt. Ahmed
al-Taie, a translator who was lost in Iraq 2006.
Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl has been listed as missing in Afghanistan since 2009.
RETURN
D3
Study: Ibuprofen can prevent altitude sickness
(Air Force Times, 20 Mar 12) … Patricia Kime
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/03/military-study-ibuprofen-can-prevent-altitude-sickness-032012w/
Corpsmen and medics in Afghanistan and at mountain warfare training have another reason to dole
out their ever-popular 800 milligram horse pills of ibuprofen: altitude sickness.
The American College of Emergency Physicians released a study Tuesday of hikers who took
ibuprofen before, during and after an ascent to high altitude. The odds of developing acute mountain
sickness, or AMS, were far more likely in a placebo group than in those who took ibuprofen.
Overall, 69 percent of people in the placebo group developed AMS, compared with just 43 percent in
the ibuprofen group. And symptoms of AMS were less severe in people in the ibuprofen group who
did develop the illness, according to study lead author Dr. Grant Lipman of Stanford University School
of Medicine.
“We did this study with the mountaineer or those who have limited vacation time in mind, but it
certainly has applicability to the warfighter,” Lipman said.
The study consisted of two groups: 44 participants received ibuprofen and 42 got a placebo. They
received doses at base camp and another at 11,700 feet. All hiked nearly three miles at altitude, after
which they received a third dose. Then they spent the night and took a final dose in the morning.
Their symptoms were monitored and tallied through a questionnaire.
“If you have limited vacation time, or in the case of the military, you don’t have time to prepare to go
to high altitude, this potentially could be a good medicine,” Lipman said.
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A number of prescription medications are available to treat altitude sickness, but most have more side
effects than ibuprofen, Lipman said.
Still, ibuprofen, as with any medication, carries risk. The popular anti-inflammatory can cause upset
stomach, gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney damage in those with reduced kidney function.
“Ibuprofen needs to be taken with lots of fluids and food,” Lipman said.
To ward off AMS, the recommended dose, according to Lipman, is 600 milligrams six hours before
ascent and 600 milligrams three times on the day of travel.
AMS affects between 25 percent and 40 percent of the population and can be debilitating. Symptoms
include headache, sleeping problems, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and fatigue. Treatment involves
acclimatization or leaving the high altitude area.
While ibuprofen may help ease the effects of AMS, it’s not a cure, Lipman said.
“If you are at high altitude and start feeling sick, I’d suggest you go down hill to the last elevation you
felt well at,” he said.
Researchers performed their study at elevations of 12,500 feet. Ibuprofen’s efficacy in places with
higher elevations, including the Himalayas or Andes, has not been studied, he added.
Lipman, a hiker himself, is a fan of his own medicine. He opts for ibuprofen over a prescription like
Diamox (acetazolamide) for reasons every weekend hiker can relate to:
“You can’t drink beer on Diamox,” he quipped.
The study will be published online in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
RETURN
MODERNIZE OUR AIR, SPACE AND CYBERSPACE INVENTORIES, ORGS AND TRAINING
M1
Korean Air upgrades U.S. F-15s
(UPI, 20 Mar 12) … Unattributed
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2012/03/20/Korean-Air-upgrades-US-F-15s/UPI-56181332271610/?spt=hs&or=si
SEOUL -- Korea Air has delivered the first rewired U.S. F-15 jet fighter under a contract to upgrade
avionics on 60 of the aircraft.
Korean Air won a $400 million U.S. Air Force contract to upgrade and rewire the avionics on 60 F-15s
last September.
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The first delivery of an upgraded jet was made from Korea Air's Busan Tech Center, The Korea
Herald reported. The aircraft are stationed in the Pacific region and the contract work is to be
completed within the next four years.
Korean Air reported that under the terms of the contract it had replaced 15,000 Kapton wires used in
the F-15's airframe with more elastic Teflon wires and ran tests to make sure all systems work to
specifications.
The contract also calls for Korean Air to replace the F-15's tail wings and rewire them in accordance
with the U.S. military's project to improve the fighters' combat strength.
Korean Air will also carry out maintenance work on the F-15s that it services.
Since 1983 Korean Air has repaired 530 F-15 fighter jets belonging to U.S. armed forces.
RETURN
M2
New Environments Challenge UAV Connectivity
(Aviation Week, 20 Mar 12) … Frank Morring, Jr.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/awst/2012/03/19/AW_03_19_2012_p37436368.xml&headline=New%20Environments%20Challenge%20UAV%20Connectivity
U.S. Air Force planners expect commercial communications satellites to have an ever-larger role in
operating remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs) as war-on-terror funding dwindles and the U.S. military
focus shifts to other theaters, including Africa, Latin America and the U.S. border regions.
At the same time, better sensors and more demand for the data they provide to troops on the ground
will increase bandwidth needed to keep the RPAs performing effectively, according to experts who
discussed the topic at the Satellite 2012 conference in Washington last week.
“The overseas contingency operations funding—it used to be called the ‘global war on terrorism
funding’—[is] starting to dry up,” says Col. Michael L. Lakos, chief of the Milsatcom Div. at Air Force
Space Command. “We need to figure out another way to fund the insatiable appetite our
commanders in the field have with RPAs and UAVs, full streaming video, full motion video, et cetera.”
Lakos’ service is working on a global communications architecture for RPAs, drawing on expertise in
the Space and Missile Systems Center, combat command, special operations command and
elsewhere to generate requirements. “We have to leverage you folks in industry to help us solve the
problem, trying to do it better, but cheaper at the same time.” Lakos says.
Among the themes industry is pushing are open standards for greater interoperability among space,
air and ground systems, and multiple frequency bands on future satellites for more operational
flexibility to accommodate different geographic theaters. A continuing and overriding theme is the
need for greater bandwidth.
“With sensors that are becoming able to collect more and more information, therefore driving greater
bandwidth requirements, as well as more specialization—either systems that are becoming more
mission-specific or greater specific capabilities on airborne assets—I see in the mid- to long-term the
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need for bandwidth increasing,” says Andrew Ruszkowski of XTAR, an operator of satellite-based Xband links. “The commercial satellite industry’s ability to support that bandwidth is very much in
question.”
One “strong recommendation” from Ruszkowski is a government push beyond Ku-band links for
RPAs to “multiple bands” on satellites. Hybrid spacecraft that include Ka-, X- and C-band as well as
Ku- would enhance the military’s ability to move into new environments as the focus on the Middle
East and Central Asia fades.
“We are seeing more interest, or a lot of growth potential, in parts of Latin America, Africa, elsewhere,
where the environment is very different,” says Ruszkowski. “That calls for a new approach. I think
you’ll see the demand for other frequencies go up.”
Mark Dale, vice president of product management at Comtech EF Data, a satellite modem vendor,
sees a broad trend to open-standard architectures across the industry, with the Digital Video
Broadcasting—Satellite—Second-Generation (DVB-S2) a good fit to deliver the streaming-video
updates ground commanders want.
“It is used extensively in the broadcast industry,” he says.
Ultimately, the architecture should support a “data-centric” approach to satellite communications,
rather than the current stovepiped “network-centric” approach, according to Sonny Marshall,
president/CEO of Marshall Communications, which supports military ground terminals in Afghanistan
and elsewhere.
Marshall sees “data-centric” as the next big thing. “You can keep on adding, adding, adding to these
networks, and it gets enormous, but if it’s data-centric you can route it anywhere, send it anywhere to
whoever needs it.”
RETURN
M3
USAF training bosses underscore need for T-X acquisition
(Flight International, 20 Mar 12) … Craig Hoyle
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-training-bosses-underscore-need-for-t-x-acquisition-369708/
Despite a planned three-year slip in the initial operational capability goal for its T-X next-generation
trainer, the US Air Force continues to view the Northrop T-38 Talon replacement deal as a major
priority.
"The T-38 is a great airplane, but it can't train fifth-generation capability," says Brig Gen Mark
Nowland, director plans, programmes and assessment for the USAF's Air Education and Training
Command (AETC).
To cover the training gap between its aged Talon and the Lockheed Martin F-22 air superiority fighter,
the USAF runs a "bridge course" using two-seat Lockheed F-16Ds operated from Luke AFB, Arizona.
New pilots are given seven flights in the type totalling 10h, with the work providing instruction in
activities such as flying high-g manoeuvres and air-to-air refuelling by day and night.
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AETC requirements division chief Gen Ken Griffin describes the current practice of using a 9gcapable aircraft as "overkill", and notes that it also places extra demand on the USAF's already under
pressure F-16D fleet. "It's hurting our F-16 community whenever we do that," he says, noting that the
annual number of students to use the type is about to rise from eight to 20.
The AETC's T-38s are an average of 44 years old, and under current plans the type is due to fly on
until 2026. Previous studies, which looked at extending this as far as 2041, showed major cost
increases and underlined the need for a new system, command officials say. However, as part of the
US Department of Defense's budget request for fiscal year 2013, a target for initial operational
capability was delayed from FY2017 to FY2020.
"Senior leaders realise the need for T-X exists now; budget constraints will dictate when," Col Dale
VanDusen, T-X system programme manager, told IQPC's Military Flight Training conference in
London on 15 March. Conceding that "industry is starved for information", he said the AETC is
working to finalise its key performance parameters for a T-38 replacement.
Several contractors are already eyeing the T-X opportunity, which has previously been outlined as
totalling about 350 new aircraft, plus associated training equipment. Alenia North America is
promoting a T-100 version of its Aermacchi M-346; BAE Systems, L-3 Link Simulation & Training and
Northrop Grumman a T129 version of the Hawk 128/T2; and Lockheed Martin/Korea Aerospace
Industries the T-50. Boeing is also believed to be quietly working on a new aircraft design intended to
meet the USAF's pilot training needs.
"Affordability is going to be a huge measure if this [procurement] happens," Griffin told the
conference. This could see the AETC consider innovative proposals, such as the use of contractorowned aircraft.
RETURN
M4
Air Force is next to move to DoD enterprise email
(Federal News Radio, 20 Mar 12) … Jason Miller
http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=412&sid=2794854http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=412&sid=2794854
The number of military services preparing to move its email systems to the Defense Information
Systems Agency's cloud is growing.
The Air Force has committed to following the Army and use the DISA enterprise email services, and
the Department of the Navy is in discussions as well, said Teri Takai, the Defense Department's chief
information officer.
"It's our intention that at the completion of Army, Air Force will begin to move to the enterprise email.
We are working with the Navy now," Takai said. "It's very important we move across DoD and email is
in many ways a forcing function. What we need to get to is a single directory and with that a single
identity management solution."
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And that identity management system would open up a host of new services and cyber protections for
DoD.
"This would give us the opportunity to create a directory to implement many of the collaboration tools
we have today on an enterprisewide basis," Takai said. "I could see a situation where if we have to
set up operations someplace brand new, rather than building tools from the bottom up and have to
bring in hardware and set up new services, we could plug into the enterprise services, and people
would have functionality very quickly."
She added the services are using different collaboration tools currently, but few in a DoD-wide
approach.
Takai said the Army's experience is key to alleviating concerns by the Air Force, the Navy and other
DoD agencies.
In addition to the Navy and Air Force, Army CIO Lt. Gen. Susan Lawrence said at a conference
earlier this week that the Pentagon's Joint Staff and the National Security Agency has asked to come
on board enterprise email. DoD joint combatant commands, including the U.S. European Command,
and the Africa Command, are part of the current migration. DoD's Southern Command has asked to
join in as well.
One piece to the cloud puzzle
The move to enterprise email also is part of a larger effort around cloud computing, which includes
data center consolidation. Takai said DoD already has closed 57 data centers in 2011 and scheduled
97 more to close in 2012—which is up from its original goal of 67. In all, Takai said the plan is to
decrease the number of data centers across DoD to 480 from 772 by 2014.
"What we are finding as we are going into the data centers, we are getting more familiar and
comfortable with what each of the data centers are doing," she said. "The services are doing a terrific
job at looking at not only at floor space but applications and duplications in the applications we are
running as well as virtualization. As we are getting into more detail, we are finding opportunities we
didn't recognize when we did the first look at the number of data centers."
DoD soon will issue a cloud computing strategy and a corresponding set of standards for industry.
Takai said the strategy could be out by the end of April.
New cloud strategy
"It really does address all aspects of what we believe DoD needs to look at in terms of cloud
computing," she said. "First of all, we believe cloud computing and the whole concept of services is a
very important concept for us going forward, not only from the standpoint that it gives us the
opportunity to get capabilities out more quickly, but we will be able to protect that capability in a much
better way than we can today where our functionality is distributed all over across 15,000 networks."
Takai said DoD initially will move to private clouds, but over time DoD would like to use commercial
cloud capabilities, which is where the new document comes in.
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She said FedRAMP, the cloud computing security standards program, will play a key role in this effort
for DoD.
All of these efforts point to key changes at DoD.
"We are moving to more standardized, more service-oriented architectures," Takai said. "We will be
looking less to building capabilities from what I call the ground floor up or the entire stack. We will be
starting with the standard platforms we have and how we build capabilities on that much faster."
RETURN
RECAPTURE ACQUISITION EXCELLENCE
A1
US Air Force holds back $621M from Raytheon for missile delays
(Bloomberg, 20 Mar 12) … Unattributed
http://www.boston.com/Boston/businessupdates/2012/03/air-force-holds-back-from-raytheon-for-missile-delays/CeZqOQK6nVZYuE91i5UpbP/index.html
The Air Force is withholding $621 million in payments to Raytheon Co., the biggest domestic maker
of missiles for the US military, citing chronic delays in delivering the most advanced air-to-air missile
for the service and the Navy.
Raytheon’s Missile Systems unit, based in Tucson, Ariz., was 193 missiles behind schedule as of
Feb. 29, according to Air Force data. The Air Force notified Raytheon on March 3 that it was
withholding $419 million in fiscal 2010 payments, the service said in an e-mail. That’s in addition to
$202 million the service was already withholding for 2007 to 2009.
Alliant Techsystems Inc., Raytheon’s subcontractor, “has had difficulty for the past year consistently
producing rocket motors to specification,” according to the Air Force.
The missiles are the newest version of the Advanced Medium- Range Air-to-Air Missile. These
missiles are intended for deployment to Air Force fighter wings and Navy aircraft carriers once testing
is done and they are declared combat-ready in fiscal 2013, the service said. The missile has been
bought by more than 33 US allies, including Jordan, Morocco, and Kuwait.
“The government believes the suspension of payments is an appropriate and measured response to
incentivize Raytheon contract compliance,” Lieutenant Colonel Jack Miller, an Air Force spokesman,
said in an e-mailed statement. “Payments will resume after consistent delivery of functional missiles.
The government is actively engaged in a joint industry-government team production improvement
effort.”
Raytheon Missile Systems spokesman John Patterson declined to comment on the withheld money.
Raytheon’s missile unit had $5.59 billion in 2011 net sales, the largest of the Waltham-based
company’s six units, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Alliant Techsystems has “committed top talent and resources to identify and implement actions
necessary to quickly return to full-rate production,” Steve Cortese, a spokesman for the Arlington,
Va.-based company, said in an e-mailed statement.
“We’ve made significant positive progress as evidenced by recent rocket motor tests,” Cortese said.
“We look forward to resuming deliveries to Raytheon in the near future.”
Miller said the Air Force defined “consistent delivery” as demonstrating a “steady growth in rocket
motor production” and Raytheon “achieves a maximum rate of 125 deliveries per month.” Raytheon
delivered its highest number, 33, in November, according to service data.
Raytheon has been building the missile for more than 25 years, William Swanson, the company’s
chairman and chief executive, said during an October 27 analyst call.
“Every year we’re asked to deliver AMRAAMs,” he said. “We’ve grown them from model A to model
D, and if you look at it, the government looks to us to give them increased capability and to be able to
do that at a lower price.”
Since January 2011, Raytheon has met or exceeded planned monthly delivery goals three times,
according to Air Force data.
The delivery delays last year prompted House and Senate budget negotiators to cut $190 million, or
about 38 percent from the Air Force fiscal 2012 request.
RETURN
A2
Pentagon Finalizing New Cost Estimate for F-35 Program
(Defense News, 20 Mar 12) … Marcus Weisgerber
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120320/DEFREG02/303200012/Pentagon-Finalizing-New-Cost-Estimate-F-35Program?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE
The U.S. Defense Department is finalizing paperwork that will unveil a new total program cost
estimate for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in “just a few days,” according to the Navy admiral
who oversees the multibillion dollar effort.
Acting Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall has “indicated his approval” of the program rebaseline, which was required after the program’s price tag exceeded congressionally set spending
limits in 2010, said Vice Adm. David Venlet after a March 20 House Armed Services tactical air and
land forces subcommittee hearing.
“We’ve had our meetings and he’s certainly … indicated his approval,” Venlet, the F-35 program
manager, said. “We’ve got some paperwork signing to do and that will happen in a matter of just a
few days.”
A prior Pentagon cost estimate for development and production of 2,443 jets topped $380 billion. A
new acquisition decision memorandum — a document signed by the Pentagon’s top weapons buyer
that approve a procurement milestone — is expected to include a new total cost estimate for the
entire F-35 program.
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The Pentagon plans to send the updated F-35 cost figures, as well as those of other programs, to
Congress “in just a couple of weeks,” Venlet said.
At the same time, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a nonpartisan auditing arm of
Congress, said that since 2010, the total cost of the F-35 programs is estimated to have increased
$15 billion. Of that increase, $5 billion of is for development and $10 billion in production, according to
a GAO report submitted to Congress at the March 20 hearing.
While the F-35 program has made advancements in testing over the past year, GAO cautioned that
DoD must still solve major development issues involving software, the mission system and helmet
mounted display.
RETURN
GLOBAL AIR, SPACE, and CYBERSPACE ENVIRONMENT
G1
U.S. Sees Perils of Israeli Strike on Iran: Report
(Agence France-Presse, 20 Mar 12) … Unattributed
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120320/DEFREG02/303200003/U-S-Sees-Perils-Israeli-Strike-Iran-Report?odyssey=nav%7Chead
NEW YORK - A classified U.S. war simulation held to assess potential fallout from an Israeli attack on
Iran predicts it would spark a broader regional war involving the U.S., The New York Times reported
March 20.
The simulation was not considered a rehearsal, the report said, but it does indicate potential risks
from such an attack.
“The results of the war game were particularly troubling to Gen. James Mattis, who commands all
American forces in the Middle East, Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia,” the report said, citing
unnamed officials familiar with the effort.
“When the exercise had concluded earlier this month, according to the officials, Gen. Mattis told aides
that an Israeli first strike would be likely to have dire consequences across the region and for United
States forces there,” it added.
The two-week simulation, dubbed Internal Look, highlighted a series of potential events in which “the
United States found it was pulled into the conflict” after Iranian missiles struck a U.S. Navy warship in
the Gulf, killing about 200 Americans, according to officials with knowledge of the exercise.
The simulation indicated U.S. forces would retaliate by carrying out its own strikes on Iranian nuclear
facilities, the report said.
The Islamic republic has been buffeted in recent months by ramped-up Western economic sanctions.
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It has also been threatened with possible military action against its nuclear facilities by Israel and the
United States.
Throughout, Tehran has maintained that its nuclear program is purely peaceful, denying Western
suspicions — largely echoed in a November report by the International Atomic Energy Agency — that
it was conducting military research towards designing nuclear weapons.
RETURN
G2
Israeli Violation of Lebanese Airspace Unacceptable - Russia
(RIA Novosti, 20 Mar 12) … Adnan Mansour and Sergei Lavrov
http://en.ria.ru/world/20120320/172284555.html
MOSCOW - The violation of Lebanese airspace by the Israeli Air Force is unacceptable, Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday after a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart.
Aircraft of the Israeli air force regularly cross into Lebanese territory, regardless of numerous UN
warnings to stop airspace violations. Such actions are in breach of the UN Security Council
Resolution 1701, which brokered a ceasefire in the 2006 Israeli-Lebanese conflict.
"We consider violating this resolution unacceptable, especially as far as respect for Lebanon’s
sovereignty and airspace is concerned. Regrettably this is a regular violation by the Israeli air force,”
Lavrov said.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said over 9,000 airspace violation incidents by Israeli
aircraft have been recorded since 2006.
In January Israeli military aircraft were spotted above southern Lebanon. According to Lebanon’s
Daily Star newspaper, ten Israeli aircraft flew at low altitudes above the cities of Nabatieh and
Marjuyun, imitating attacks on ground targets.
RETURN
G3
Russian Air Force Adopts New Cruise Missile
(RIA Novosti, 20 Mar 12) … Alexander Stelliferovsky
http://en.ria.ru/mlitary_news/20120320/172284223.html
MOSCOW - A new cruise missile has entered service with the Russian Air Force’s strategic longrange arms division, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Tuesday.
He did not provide any details, only saying it was an air-launched long range missile.
AF chief Col Gen Alexander Zelin previously said the new cruise missile was developed by the
Taktitcheskoye Raketnoye Vooruzhenie (Tactical Missile) defense corporation and that its
specifications were secret. He said the new missiles would also be installed in fifth-generation
fighters.
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Douglas Barrie, an air warfare analyst at the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies,
said the new weapon was likely to be “either the Kh-555 or Kh-101/102.”
The Kh-555 is a new conventionally-armed variant of the Kh-55 nuclear-armed cruise missile, which
has been in service since the 1984 on Tu-95 and Tu-160 bombers.
Kh-101 is a stealthy nuclear armed cruise-missile under development by the Raduga design bureau,
along with a conventionally-armed variant (Kh-102). Globalsecurity.org claims the weapon was testfired in October 1998. Some reports claim the weapon is itself a derivative of Kh-555.
Serdyukov also said Russia’s fleet of Tu-160 Blackjack and Tu-95MS Bear strategic bombers will be
modernized.
Defense Ministry spokesman Vladimir Drik earlier said the AF’s strategic long-range arms division will
receive more than 10 modernized Tu-160M Blackjack bombers by 2020.
The new bombers will be adapted to carry advanced cruise missiles and bombs.
Zelin said in January the AF will soon deploy an advanced tactical air-to-air missile that will greatly
enhance its operational effectiveness. The missile will be carried by MiG-31BM Foxhound supersonic
interceptors/fighters and will subsequently be used by other warplanes.
Zelin did not identify the missile but experts believe it could be the K-37M, also known as RVV-BD, or
AA-X-13 Arrow as it is known to NATO.
The K-prefix denotes a weapon in development while the M indicates a modification. An export
variant of the weapon, known as RVV-BD, was shown at MAKS 2011. The BD suffix may stand for
the Russian words bolshoi dalnosti, or long range.
RETURN
G4
British business pins Gulf hopes on mega fighter jet deal
(Al Arabiya, 21 Mar 12) … Carina Kamel
http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/03/21/202054.html
As the British defence sector prepares to submit what could be one of the most significant deals in
defence contracting with the UAE Air force, the British government is stepping up efforts to court its
Gulf partners.
Al Arabiya was granted exclusive access to a private meeting of more than 50 British CEOs and
executives from leading companies, including defence contracting giant BAE Systems, where the
UK’s Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Lord Stephen Green, made the case for the
Typhoon combat aircraft Britain is hoping to sell to the Emirates.
“In the form of Typhoon we have a great plane to offer the UAE. We believe it meets the real long
term defence and security needs of UAE,” Lord Green told Al Arabiya in an interview, adding that the
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deal would provide “significant technological and industrial benefits to the UAE, the UK and the
European defence industry.”
This high level meeting in London comes shortly before a delegation of British security service
companies heads to the Gulf to drum business and after a series of conferences and trade missions
focused squarely on opportunities for Britain in the Middle East and Arabian Gulf region as part of the
current administration’s so-called “commercial diplomacy” strategy.
Speaking exclusively to Al Arabiya, the UAE Ambassador Abdurahman Ghanem al-Mutaiwee said,
“the UAE can benefit from Britain’s expertise both in the military and civilian fields” but added that
“benefits must be for both sides, be it the UK or the UAE. If benefits are one sided, the partnership
won’t continue.”
The UAE is the largest market for British goods in the entire Middle East and North Africa region but
Ambassador al-Mutaiwee will no doubt be heartened by the fact that UAE exports to Britain increased
by 13 percent last year – a statistic touted by British officials as proof the trade relationship works
both ways. The same period saw Britain’s exports to the UAE jump by more than 20 percent.
Lord Green insisted that the UK’s relationship with the UAE “is not just about defence,” adding that he
“would like to see that defence relationship set in the much wider context of the overall relationship to
which there are many sides.”
The vast majority of British exported goods in general and to the Middle East in particular are defence
and military equipment.
The Typhoon fighter jet was used by NATO forces in the campaign in Libya last year and is
manufactured by the European arms consortium Eurofigher which includes the UK’s BAE Systems,
Italy’s Finmeccanica and EADS, owned by the governments of Germany and Spain.
The United Arab Emirates invited Typhoon’s manufactures late last year to submit a proposal for
supplying the Typhoon jets. This overture by the UAE was considered a coup for the British-led arms
consortium given that the UAE had been in talks with France’s Dassault since 2008 over the
purchase of up to 60 French-built Rafale fighters in a deal reportedly worth $10 billion. This comes as
the UAE seeks to replace its fleet of Mirage 2000s bought in 1983.
Contracts in the defence industry are long term and mega-deals like this potential Typhoon contract
usually come round once every decade or even longer, which is why Britain is keen to secure this
one.
But as a UK trade official explained, the partnerships created from such deals are equally important to
longer term trade relations and often spill over into other sectors. “We want all investments to be joint
ventures or partnerships” he said referring to Abu-Dhabi’s Mubadala as a key strategic partner.
Gulf officers and personnel already receive training at Britain’s many military academies and the UK
wants to expand this knowledge transfer by providing its Gulf partners with the expertise needed to
manufacture the military equipment themselves – hence the partnerships sought with Mubadala’s
Defence and Aerospace arm. Such partnerships also mean Gulf engineers and army officers would
gain the needed skills to maintain sophisticated weapons like the Typhoon, thus enhancing regional
skills and creating jobs locally.
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According to Alan Garwood, head of business development at BAE Systems which has been active in
the UAE for 30 years, the company has been providing pilot training to UAE airforce officers for 15
years and established one of the first aircraft leasing companies in Abu Dhabi. It is this kind of
longevity that Britain is hoping will win it the Typhoon contract, reportedly worth more than £3bn
($4.75 billion).
“Typhoon is an essential catalyst not only for defence but also for industrial production,” Garwood
said at the meeting, adding that earlier this month BAE had submitted a 90 page document to the
Emirati authorities outlining opportunities with his company and other leading defence contractors.
The UK is the world’s second largest exporter of defence products and services after the United
States, with a fast growing defence industry that saw its global market share increase to 22 percent in
2010. Aviation is a key part of that, accounting for 80 percent of Britain’s total defence exports. Which
is why, Baroness Symons, a former Minister of State for Middle East, speaking at the meeting
insisted that “defence and security are crucial to the UK economy. If we are successful [with the
Typhoon deal] it will help us all by developing our partnership with the UAE.”
Given that the Middle East is the UK’s most important market for defence products and services it
comes as no surprise that British businessmen and ministers are on a full-blown charm offensive in
the region. Saudi Arabia alone was the biggest defence importer in the word over the past ten years
according to UK government figures while the UAE ranks 9th globally.
BAE Systems and its European consortium partners are expected to put forward the formal proposal
to the UAE within weeks according to a UK trade official, after which the Emirates will evaluate the
costs and benefits of the offer. The official said it is unlikely decision by the UAE will be taken this
year.
In addition to the UAE proposal, the Eurofighter consortium is eyeing further deals in the region,
including possible deals in Qatar and a sale of up to 12 Typhoons to Oman’s Air Force reportedly
worth more than £2billion ($3.17 billion) in a deal that could be completed later this year following an
Omani ‘request for proposals’ in January.
RETURN
G5
Auditor to chastise DND/Public Works on F-35
(Canadian Press, 20 Mar 12) … Murray Brewster
http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/canada/article/1129507--auditor-to-chastise-dnd-public-works-on-f-35--page0
OTTAWA - Canada's auditor general has both National Defence and Public Works in his sights when
it comes to the troubled F-35 stealth fighter program, say senior government sources.
A draft copy of the scathing review, circulating in Ottawa for weeks, suggests the air force didn't do its
pricing homework and government officials failed to follow procurement rules, say those who've read
it.
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It's not clear whether the language will be toned down in the final report, Michael Ferguson's first as
auditor general, when it's released April 3.
But federal officials familiar with the document note no final decision on purchasing the multi-role
fighter has been made, and may take a year or two.
"It's bad, (but) how can the auditor general be auditing a purchase that hasn't taken place?" said one
senior official, who asked not to be identified.
"The process to select, you can look at. They are pre-supposing a decision to acquire has taken place
and it hasn't."
Julian Fantino, the minister in charge of defence procurement, gave a similar message to the House
of Commons defence committee last week, and went further by saying that Ottawa reserves the right
to bail on the multibillion-dollar program.
Senior officials say the auditor general's harsh review is behind the Harper government's change in
posture over the last few weeks, where a hard-line message of commitment has softened into
skepticism about the international program, which is billions of dollars off target and years behind
schedule.
The Conservative government's plan has been to buy 65 of the radar-evading jets.
The sources said the Harper government was warned last year not to be so absolute in its public
support, especially in the aftermath of Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page's criticism of the air
force's cost estimates.
Politicians were apparently counselled to say they'll "have a look at it" and a formal contract signing
was still "three years away from now."
But the advice was ignored, coming on the eve of an election where the Liberals attempted to make
the F-35 purchase one of their campaign planks.
Instead, the Conservatives dug in and insisted their July 2010 commitment to the Lockheed-Martin
fighter as a replacement for the CF-18s was final.
They held to that position even in the face of mounting worries about further delays and possible cost
increases as the U.S. government pushed off some of its initial aircraft orders to future years.
Within the military, there is apparently growing frustration that it is going "wear" the criticisms of the
auditor's report.
One senior official noted the air force didn't have to make a decision on replacing the 1980s vintage
CF-18s for a few years and that the 2010 announcement was all about positioning business and the
aerospace sector for F-35 contracts.
Liberal defence critic John McKay said he finds the potential criticism of Public Works to be most
troubling.
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"They are, in effect, the watchdog of the procurement process," McKay said Tuesday.
"Just because you haven't signed a contract doesn't mean that you're not in a procurement process.
So, I don't know if that is a valid reason."
The Conservatives, he said, have no one to blame but themselves for the political back-peddling.
"The poor taxpayer has every right to question what the heck is going on here," he said.
"The government's strident (tone) and scorn for opposition from any source, whether it's MPs or
whether it's from the (Parliamentary Budget Officer) or whatever, essentially precludes any kind of
reasoned dialogue."
Much of the debate around the program centred on the cost.
The Conservatives have insisted the entire purchase and support costs will be between $14 billion
and $16 billion, making the jets the largest defence purchase in Canadian history. But the budget
officer and critics have challenged that, delivering estimates of up to $29.5 billion.
RETURN
ITEMS OF INTEREST
I1
Germany Confirms Sale of Nuclear-Capable Sub to Israel
(Agence France-Presse, 20 Mar 12) … Unattributed
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120320/DEFREG01/303200007/Germany-Confirms-Sale-Nuclear-Capable-Sub-Israel?odyssey=nav%7Chead
BERLIN - Germany will sell Israel a sixth nuclear capable Dolphin-class submarine, Germany’s
defense minister confirmed on March 20 after talks in Berlin with his Israeli counterpart Ehud Barak.
“An additional submarine will be delivered to Israel,” Thomas de Maiziere told a joint press
conference with Barak, adding that Germany would subsidize the cost although he did not say by how
much.
A German government source in November said Germany would foot a third of the bill, amounting to
a maximum of 135 million euros ($178 million).
Germany reconsidered the sale of the submarine to Israel in the wake of tensions over Jewish
settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian territories, Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot
reported in October.
But Berlin then agreed to sell Israel the vessel after the Jewish state released millions of dollars in
customs duties to the Palestinian Authority, Israeli army radio reported two months later.
The Israeli navy currently has three German-made Dolphin-class submarines, two of which were
bought after the 1991 Gulf War.
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Two others are under construction at Kiel shipyard and are due for delivery in 2012. An option for a
sixth was also included in the contract.
Media reports have said the submarines can carry nuclear warheads and have an operating range of
4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles).
RETURN
I2
Philippines’ Aquino Says More U.S. Troops Welcome
(Agence France-Presse, 20 Mar 12) … Karl Malakunas
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120320/DEFREG03/303200006/Philippines-8217-Aquino-Says-More-U-S-TroopsWelcome?odyssey=nav%7Chead
MANILA - Philippine President Benigno Aquino said on March 20 that more U.S. troops would be
welcome to rotate through the Southeast Asian nation, but ruled out permanent bases.
Aquino told AFP in an interview that talks were under way for the longtime allies to hold more military
training exercises in the Philippines, as well as increase the number of times that U.S. Navy ships
visited.
“We are talking with them. We will have more of the same, is what I am trying to say,” Aquino said,
referring to a longstanding partnership that sees regular joint exercises and U.S. port calls in the
Philippines.
“Their ships can come and call on us, can be replenished, but our constitution will not allow any
permanent berthing here in any form.
“There might be increases in terms of personnel, but it will have to be very clear on when they come
in and go out. They cannot be here permanently.”
The negotiations come while the United States is expanding its military presence in the Asia Pacific
as a counterweight to rising China, having brokered a deal last year with Australia to place more
troops there.
It is also expecting to station several combat ships in Singapore and step up deployments in
Thailand, the chief of U.S. naval operations, Adm. Jonathan Greenert, wrote in December.
Aquino said the Philippines was also looking to the United States for help in building up its defense
capabilities, amid a maritime territorial dispute with China that flared last year and a host of other
security issues.
The Philippines had asked the United States for F-16 fighter jets, as well as patrol vessels, transport
aircraft and radar systems, according to Aquino.
“They are still studying the request for the excess F-16s. We are hoping they will look at it favorably,”
he said.
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Aquino said fighter jets were a top priority for the Philippines, which has one of the most poorlyequipped militaries in the region, because the country has none.
“From nothing to one is a significant leap. I am told we can sustain two squadrons (24 aircraft).”
Aquino emphasized there were many reasons the Philippines needed to increase its military
capabilities, including combating terrorism, helping deal with natural disasters and evacuating
Filipinos from crises overseas.
But he also talked in depth about the Philippines needing to protect its rights to parts of the South
China Sea that are within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and are believed to sit atop
vast oil and gas deposits.
China and Taiwan also claim those areas as theirs, even though the contested waters are much
closer to Philippine landmass than Chinese.
Diplomatic tensions escalated last year when the Philippines accused China of harassing a
Philippine-chartered oil exploration vessel in one of the disputed areas called Reed Bank, and of
other bullying tactics.
Philippine concerns abut China’s perceived aggressiveness prompted it to seek help from the United
States in building up its maritime defense capabilities.
The United States responded favorably, delivering a former coast guard cutter to the Philippine Navy
last year and promising more military aid.
The negotiations currently under way are an extension of that deepening partnership.
While China has bristled at U.S. interference in what it regards as a regional dispute, Aquino said the
Philippines was entitled to seek help from the United States in building up its military capabilities.
“We are not getting any offensive capability from the Americans. But we do need — I think all
countries have a legitimate need for — defense, and that is our focus,” he said.
Nevertheless, Aquino said he was confident that the Philippines’ dispute with China would be
resolved peacefully.
He also said the Philippines was willing to allow Chinese companies to jointly develop the contested
oil and gas fields.
“We are open to getting them as partners in the exploitation of these resources, subjects to our laws
of course,” he said.
RETURN
I3
Cyber warfare rules still being written
(Washington Times, 20 Mar 12) … Shaun Waterman
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http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/20/cyber-warfare-rules-still-being-written/
The Pentagon is still writing rules for combating cyberattacks, even though U.S. Cyber Command has
been operating for more than a year, defense officials said Tuesday.
“The [Pentagon] is working on standing rules of engagement which will give us the authority” to
respond to attacks on vital computer networks, Air ForceGen. Keith Alexander, commander of Cyber
Command, told a House hearing.
Madelyn Creedon, assistant secretary of defense for global strategic affairs, added that the work
should be completed “in a couple of months.”
“We have been working on this a long time,” she told the House Armed Services subcommittee on
emerging threats and capabilities.
Both testified alongside Teresa Takai, the Pentagon’s chief information officer, about the
department’s $37 billion information technology budget request for 2013.
Cybercom was set up in May 2010, and became fully operational in October 2010.
Some lawmakers suggested it is unready to act at the speed required to thwart cyberattacks, which
traverse the Internet at the speed of light.
Gen. Alexander insisted that the military is “fully integrated” with the FBI and the Department of
Homeland Security, the two domestic agencies with which it shares responsibility for detecting and
responding to cyberattacks.
Asked whether he could respond against a cyberattack before it reached the United States, as the
military would with a missile or air attack, Gen. Alexander replied, “What I’m pushing for is to have
those [authorities in the rules of engagement] so that we can protect and prevent” as well as respond.
RETURN
END OF FULL TEXT
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