Pentagon acquisition guru Ken Krieg has asked the Defense Science Board to form a task force to examine DOD’s energy strategy—everything from operational and strategic constraints inherent in aerial tanking to the high cost of delivering energy to the battlefield and the potential implications of disruptions to energy flow. The infrastructure required to transport and distribute energy to the battlefield is “extremely costly” and diverts resources from combat capabilities, Krieg cautioned. Among the DSB’s tasks, identify ways to reduce demand, identify the possibilities of DOD producing energy, and assess how a proposed new energy strategy would impact DOD’s global realignment.
Aircraft readiness will suffer if Congress does not approve some $1.5 billion worth of spare parts the Air Force requested in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, sent to Capitol Hill last week, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said.