The House Armed Services Committee wants to limit F-35 funding beyond 30 aircraft until DOD certifies that its recent restructure has borne fruit. During the 2011 defense bill markup Wednesday, Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said his air and land subcommittee added “requirements that the timeline, as laid out by the contractor and by DOD, be met.” He continued: “It’s a critical program. It’s replacing almost all of our fighter attack aircraft over the course of the next five to 20 years. We have to make sure that it works and functions.” And, seapower panel ranking member Todd Akin (R-Mo.) noted that “even if JSF [Joint Strike Fighter] suddenly meets schedule and cost, the Navy and Marine Corps will continue to have a strike fighter shortfall.” He likened the shortfall as “closer to five carriers’ worth of aircraft,” calling that “a pretty big deal” despite Pentagon assurances otherwise.
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
