JCS Chairman Gen. Peter Pace told defense reporters in Washington yesterday he thinks finding a way to settle inequities between the services is “worth taking a look at.” Pace said the Air Force and the Navy have been “extremely forthcoming” in finding service members to ease some of the pressure on ground forces in the war on terrorism. However, he wants to make sure the right people are in the right jobs. As for control of unmanned aerial vehicle operations (see above), “If that’s a place where the Air Force could free up Army troops to do other things, it’s worth the discussion.”
The Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile is behind schedule and may significantly overrun its expected cost, which could partially explain why the service is reviving the hypersonic AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid-Response Weapon.