That’s the opinion of Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.), who like fellow lawmaker Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), believes that the future of Dover Air Force Base rests on USAF continuing to modernize the behemoth airlifter to the C-5M configuration with new engines and avionics. They are not happy, according to a report by the News Journal, that some lawmakers want the Administration to continue C-17 production, which could come at the expense of the Super Galaxy upgrade program. Dover flies the C-17 as well as the C-5, but it got its full complement of the new airlifter last fall, so the two Delaware lawmakers are pushing to get all Dover C-5s upgraded, for as Castle told the News Journal, “means Dover Air Force Base remains that much more viable.” Carper complained that lawmakers supporting continued C-17 production see it “as a jobs program.” Hmmm.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
