Various news reports proclaim that an internal memo from Acting Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England to the military services direct them to deliver proposals to cut weapons acquisition programs. The target is $32 billion across 2007-11. And that may not be the end figure. It is already more than last year’s shocker—program budget decision 753—which directed a cut of $30 billion. PBD 753 was the document that canceled the C-130J and reduced the buy of F/A-22 Raptors.
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.