According to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Michael Mullen, the mid-air breakup of an F-15 has elevated his “level of concern” and “certainly increased the risk of this whole Tacair [tactical aircraft] plan.” However, Mullen told lawmakers at a May 20 Senate Appropriations defense panel hearing, he has faith in the F-35 program and is “comfortable” with the Bush Administration plan to punt the F-22 decision to the next Administration. Mullen deflected a suggestion by Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) that the Pentagon should buy more legacy fighters—upgraded versions—to bridge USAF’s acknowledged 800-aircraft fighter gap and to sustain a wider industrial base. Mullen said: “I think it’s a matter of choices. We actually don’t have a very good history of upgrading [legacy] airplanes.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited the site of U.S. Space Command’s future home Dec. 12 and endorsed the move to establish the headquarters in Alabama after years of political back and forth.
