The Los Angeles Times reports that Defense Secretary Robert Gates “privately rebuked” Gen. Bruce Carlson for his widely reported remarks that the Air Force would find a way to purchase the number of F-22 Raptors it needs, rather than stopping at the Administration-approved 183. (See our item below) Peter Spiegel of the Times reports that Gates on Thursday called “Carlson’s superior,” Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne. Carlson is commander of Air Force Materiel Command. Air Force leadership has steadfastly maintained that the service needs 381 Raptors. That hasn’t changed. And, lawmakers last fall criticized the Pentagon for quashing independent studies that confirmed the need for a larger buy of the F-22. Word is that top DOD leaders are being ill-served by an OSD staff so biased against the F-22 that they cannot give objective advice. Why would Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England believe the F-22 and F-35 are interchangeable
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.