Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) has gone on record as “strongly opposed” to the President’s 2007 defense budget proposal to terminate C-17 production at 180 aircraft—issuing a statement saying, “If we do not purchase additional transports, we will lack the capability needed to deploy and adequately sustain forces overseas.” Talent acknowledges that adding more C-17s will be “an uphill battle.” Still, he has support. The Senate late last year did pass his legislation supporting additional procurement of C-17s.
In an effort to improve connectivity aboard Air Force tanker and mobility aircraft, the Defense Innovation Unit, or DIU, wants a commercial “open system engine” for controlling new applications such as a moving map display that helps aircrew see through the fog of war.
