Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday revealed a new reason why the Pentagon wants to drop the General Electric-Rolls Royce F-136 engine from the F-35 strike fighter program: its performance. “We think that the current engine that GE is offering probably does not meet the performance standards that are required,” Gates told members of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense panel during an oversight hearing. Further, “the taxpayer would be required to pay for any enhancement that would bring it up to the performance standards.”
Flying and fixing aircraft remains the Air Force’s reason for being, but protecting air bases from attack is becoming an essential component that makes those possible. Following attacks on air bases across the Middle East during Operation Epic Fury, point defense was among the hottest topics on tap at AFA’s…