Harvey—We Need More Airlifters

Army Secretary Francis Harvey told defense reporters in Washington Thursday morning that the services definitely need more cargo airplanes. He included in that assessment the new Army-Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft program to produce “a son of a C-130,” but he emphasized the need for additional strategic airlift, specifically USAF’s C-17. “Remember that the C-17 is very key to the deployability of the Army’s [Future Combat System],” said Harvey, adding that “21st century conflicts require rapid deployability.”