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.
Sticker Shock Drags Out USAF’s E-7 Negotiations with Boeing
April 18, 2024
While a deal on the E-7 Wedgetail airborne battle management jet may come soon, negotiations are stuck on the high price Boeing is asking for the development jets, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said recently.