Republican leaders of the House Armed Services Committee are eager for the United States to spend money on developing new classified space systems, especially after China launched an anti-satellite missile last month. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and Terry Everett (R-Ala.) sent a letter to President Bush, urging to “make substantial efforts … now to avoid technological surprise.” (Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) made a similar case at a Washington forum earlier this week.) In a press statement, Hunter called China’s shootdown of its own satellite “the commencement of a new era of military competition.”
Lawmakers are growing impatient for an overdue fighter recapitalization study from the Air Force, and members say they'll demand more detailed justifications for future aircraft retirements.