Senate authorizers agreed to an across-the-board 3.5 percent military pay increase for the 2008 defense authorization bill; the House version contains a similar pay raise also agreed to put back the $1.9 billion the Pentagon would have cut from its 2008 health program as “savings” from raising Tricare fees for military retirees. The Senate Armed Services Committee “rejected the Administration’s proposal to give DOD broad authority to increase Tricare program cost sharing amounts.” The committee’s markup summary (see above) noted that such a cost-sharing increase is “premature” since the analyses required by Congress last year is still forthcoming. (House authorizers also rejected the Tricare fee increase.) The Pentagon also got no satisfaction on the National Security Personnel System, because like their House brethren, Senate authorizers want to limit DOD’s NSPS implementation relative to union activities.
Competitors Not Picked for CCA Look Forward to Increment 2
April 25, 2024
While none of the major aircraft contractors were selected to develop the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, all three say they are seeking further autonomous aircraft work for the Navy, foreign partners, or in the classified arena, and maybe future versions of the CCA itself.