Gordon England, the acting Deputy Defense Secretary, has ordered yet another review of US fighter programs. His Aug. 4 memo to top officials directed an independent review to “identify and develop, as appropriate, new operating concepts to optimize the employment of joint tactical aviation.” In other words, stand by for cuts to USAF’s F/A-22, the Navy’s F/A-18E/F, or the joint service F-35—or all three. As Navy Secretary in 2002, England also “reviewed” the daylights out of Navy and Marine Corps aviation, imposing major cuts on both.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
