Despite his intention to get an independent assessment of the military healthcare system to “get some idea of what the real needs are,” Sen. Lindsay Graham believes there will be an “erosion of benefits,” meaning military retirees will pay more for Tricare. Graham asked rhetorically, “Will [the benefit erosion] come in a way that people can afford, and will we have a soft landing or will we have a hard landing?”
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.