House defense appropriators have added $2.2. billion to the Obama Administration’s $75.5 billion war supplemental to buy eight C-17s and $904 million to buy 11 C-130Js, according to documents issued earlier this week by Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wis.), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. The committee is scheduled to consider the bill today. Obey said in a statement May 4 that procuring the additional C-17s—which, by our count, would give the Air Force a total of 213—would “allow for the decommissioning of a number of C-5s.” The C-130 mark-up, he said, is “essentially moving forward President Obama’s recommended purchase for 2010.” According to the draft committee report, the C-130 buy would comprise five C-130J combat-delivery aircraft, three HC-130J tankers, and three MC-130Js for special operations forces. Obey said the committee’s proposed version of the bill “does not address” the KC-X tanker issue. (House appropriators’ bill summary)
The U.K. and the U.S. will continue to enjoy access to the ports, airfield, and workshops at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for at least another century, under a deal inked between the U.K. and Mauritius May 22.