Keating also discussed Operation Noble Eagle—now entering its fifth year—noting that because Air National Guard fighters fly most of the missions, he became a central figure in the controversy over the Air Force’s BRAC recommendations to realign ANG units—deactivating some and stripping others of their aircraft. Keating testified to Congress that the changes to the Air Guard would not create an unacceptable risk to the nation’s defense. (DR, 08/15/05) He emphasized Thursday that it is “very important” to NORAD/NORTHCOM that ANG remains a “viable force” and that he believes the Air Force plans leave enough ANG units to do the job.
The cost of the nuclear AGM-181 Long-Range Stand Off missile has come down slightly and the program is on track, but several technologies it relies on are still considered immature, the Government Accountability Office found in a report. Meanwhile, the GAO also assessed the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile as…