Defense Secretary Robert Gates announces the service shares of a $100 billion cut planned over the next five years. The Air Force share is about $34 billion. To reach that amount, USAF planned to implement new efficiencies. There were no additional major program cuts planned.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
