The Air Force has been engaged in combat in the Middle East for more than 16 years—from Desert Shield through the no fly zone operations to today’s fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq—and funding constraints of the past few years are hurting readiness. Of all but a handful of USAF units reporting, only 68 percent were “ready” in Fiscal 2004. In 2005, the number of units fell to 63 percent, and last year, it was down to 56 percent. A senior service official showed reporters in a background briefing USAF “traffic light” charts, in which red is bad, yellow is cautionary, and green is good. In Fiscal 2004 through 2006, the number of units in the “red” was 15 percent, 19 percent, and 20 percent, respectively. “Yellows” rose from 17 percent to 19 percent to 25 percent over the same period. And, yet, today’s defense budget request hits accounts that impact Air Force readiness—flying hours will be cut 10 percent; aircraft depot maintenance will be funded at 77 percent of required levels; base operating support at 68 percent; and contractor logistics support cut 10 percent.
PHOTOS: 12 B-2s Conduct Massive Fly-Off, Elephant Walk
April 19, 2024
The Air Force carried out the largest B-2 Spirit fly-offs in recent history, when 12 aircraft—the majority of the nation's stealth bombers—took off one by one on April 15 from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. The event also created a massive elephant walk as the aircraft taxied to and took…