The head of the Senate Armed Services Committee, John Warner (R-Va.), and a chief Air Force critic, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), still are stalling the confirmation of former acting Air Force Secretary Michael Domniguez to be Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel. The issue is the new C-130J transport. About two weeks ago at the Dominguez confirmation hearing, McCain said the Air Force had not fully responded to Capitol Hill concerns about the C-130J even though the service, at Congressional direction, has begun to shift the J model to a standard military contract from a commercial one. On Feb. 28, Warner told reporters that Air Force leaders needed to meet with lawmakers to clear the air.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.