: 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.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach told lawmakers Apr. 30 that the service’s biggest airlifter, the C-5 Galaxy, has a 37 percent mission capable rate—one of several challenges facing the mobility fleet.