Le Bourget, France —Air Force acquisition executive David Van Buren, addressing an international audience here Tuesday at the Paris Air Show, said “efficiencies will not be enough” in reaching spending levels demanded in future US defense budgets. “We will have...

Le Bourget, France —The Air Force is conducting a “should cost” analysis on the F-22 improvement program, said USAF acquisition executive David Van Buren here Tuesday at the Paris Air Show. Van Buren acknowledged that outyears funding for F-22 enhancements...

The Obama Administration does not plan to seek supplemental appropriations to cover the costs of Libya operations, but will instead pay for them out of currently available defense funds. The costs "will be offset through reductions in lower priority support activities" and through "some reduction to the peacetime flying hour program," states the White House report to Congress, dated June 15, outlining Obama's political and military objectives for the war-torn African country. As of June 3, the Pentagon had spent $715.9 million on Libya-related military activities and humanitarian assistance since the start of operations in mid March. The total price tag is expected to exceed $1 billion by the end of September if the current pace of operations continues, according to the report. Appearing on Fox News Sunday on June 19, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the US strategy for Libya is "absolutely right." He said Obama's arrangement with key allies was, from the very beginning, that the United States "would come in heavy at the beginning, establish a no-fly zone, and then hand off the operation to our allies and . . . recede into a support role." The President has "stuck to" that, asserted Gates. (Libya report; caution, large-sized file.) (Report cover letter) (See also AFPS report by Jim Garamone.)

The Senate's draft version of next fiscal year's defense authorization bill provides $682.5 billion for national defense discretionary programs, $6.4 billion less than President Obama's $688.9 billion request. The Senate Armed Services Committee approved the draft legislation last week, authorizing $547.1 billion for the Pentagon's base budget ($5.9 billion less than Obama's $553 billion request), $117.3 billion for the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq ($537 million less), and some $18.1 billion (minor addition) for Energy Department national security programs, according to the release summarizing the committee's marks. Among the Air Force-related highlights, the SASC fully funded F-35A procurement (19 aircraft) and development of the next-generation bomber. The committee also authorized the block purchase of two Advanced Extremely High Frequency communications satellites using a fixed-price contract and with incremental funding. It permitted the Air Force to retire six B-1 bombers, but prohibited any U-2 retirements until the Defense Department certifies that its planned successor, the RQ-4 Global Hawk, costs less to operate and sustain. The House provided roughly $690 billon in its version of the Fiscal 2012 defense authorization bill passed in May.

Maj. Gen. Byron Hepburn, 59th Medical Wing commander at Lackland AFB, Tex., received the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal. Gen. Edward Rice, head of Air Education and Training Command, presented Hepburn with the medal—the fourth highest award for an airman—during...

The Air Force opened the 59th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility at Lackland AFB, Tex., to support wounded troops returning from overseas. The facility will provide medical care to patients for 12 hours to 72 hours while they await transportation to...

Le Bourget, France —Under dark gray and rainy skies, the 49th Paris Air Show got underway here Monday, featuring aggressive, under-the-cloud-deck flying demonstrations by the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, and Lockheed Martin F-16. Also flying were Lockheed’s C-130J and Alenia...

Le Bourget, France—Air Force, Navy, and NASA Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft will achieve “convergence” in 2013 or 2014, Northrop Grumman’s Walt Kreitler told reporters at the Paris Air Show here Monday. That means their “core systems,” such as communications,...

Three C-130s and more than 70 airmen from the 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota AB, Japan, are participating in Cope West 11, a bilateral airlift exercise that began Monday at Halim Air Base, near Jakarta, Indonesia. Operating jointly with Indonesian...

Airmen volunteers from Sather AB, Iraq, joined Army counterparts in clearing one of Saddam Hussein’s former palaces in preparation for its return to the Iraqi government. Saddam’s ironically named Victory Over America Palace was one of more than 70 that...

Officials at JB Charleston S.C., are preparing for a complete refurbishment of the 9,000-foot main runway that the base shares with Charleston International Airport. “Last year we finished off the secondary runway, and this year we received word that we...

Pratt & Whitney announced Monday that it has delivered the first F135 spare engine to the F-35 schoolhouse at Eglin AFB, Fla., to support the strike fighter’s training operations. Those activities are set to commence there this summer. “Delivery of...