Krieg wants the Pentagon’s acquisition corps to “adopt a more agile strategy” that will let the Global Hawk UAV program advance more quickly. He cautions, though, that program officials must make certain that the enhancements to Global Hawk show “demonstrated system performance” before any new UAV is turned over to warfighters. Krieg’s recent decision memo on Global Hawk offers important guidance for DOD’s top acquisition managers, who want to know what is going to happen to the program in the currently tight DOD budget climate. Congress may not have the same enthusiasm; lawmakers shifted some Global Hawk funding in the Fiscal 2006 defense spending bill to other programs.
The Air Force is asking Congress for a major infusion of cash into a little-known fund that manages spare parts In its 2027 budget request, as the service focuses on improving aircraft readiness.