: The Air Force has asked the Pentagon’s independent cost estimators to determine what the RQ-4 Global Hawk remotely piloted reconnaissance aircraft should really cost, says David Van Buren, the service’s acquisition executive. Speaking to reporters in the Pentagon June 18, Van Buren said he expects this “should-cost” analysis to be completed in August or September. He said this review was prompted by the Air Force’s dissatisfaction with the state of the Global Hawk program (see USAF Voices Global Hawk Frustrations from Monday’s Daily Report column). For example, the Air Force believes turnaround times for repairs take far too long.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
