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Challenges of today's Air Force
Air Force Speeches, Feb 8, 2007 by Michael W. Wynne
Second, over the year 2006 we have worked to address the habits of thought in our Air Force and with our joint partners, the habits of thought on how we plan and how we fight. Your theme of last year pointed the way on interdependence, and we have developed the ideas of the interdependent fight, and on the spherical situation awareness that new technologies like the Rover system and the unmanned air systems make possible. These terms are now moving into the lexicon of our Airmen, into the lexicon of our ground and sea fighters and defense analysts. It is interesting that they are also moving into the lexicon of first responders, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and some members of our Justice Department. Words matter; they shape thought and they shape action, and frankly, this is a success.
As for specific accomplishments by your Air Force in 2006, the list is long and it's impressive. I did a quick count, 21 major concrete successes, but that was only the beginning. The new tanker is our number one acquisition program. We have just launched the KC-X (tanker) proposal process, and it appears that we have a great horse race under way. This is the air bridge, and you can see that the air bridge is what we have been doing into the fight going on for 17 years. The term is now appearing in the public lexicon as we have said to them we established the air bridge to Southwest Asia during the spring of 1990. We believe this air bridge will continue to extend to Southwest Asia till probably 2010, at least that's what our planning is calling for. Could it be beyond? I remember last saying it this way--who would have thought in 1993 that we would have been in Southwest Asia in 2007? And now it is 2007, and how far can you see? Well for us in the Air Force, as I tell my senatorial and congressional colleagues, we can't say no.
We have to say when and where, we can't say whether, whether or not we will go, we have to say when we will be there and how we're going to accomplish it. We're finding out that even internationally we are relied on as the Air Force of choice, perhaps even the Air Force of last resort. It shows in our humanitarian relief; it shows in missions that we derive or take from some of our coalition partners. It clearly derives from some of the actions that we see within our own joint force. This image and other strategic communication products have opened the discussion on the huge recap needs that the Air Force faces.
Just to boil things down in rough terms, we'll take delivery this coming year of about 60 aircraft. With a fleet of about 6,000 aircraft, this makes a 100-year recapitalization rate. It is a great challenge to stay effective with such an aging fleet. And the issue includes our satellites as well. We have placed this issue firmly into the congressional and executive branch planning process. That is a success. The short of it is, we don't want to arm or train our Airmen with the proverbial wooden rifles, like those in the unprepared days of World War II. They deserve the best in tankers, fighting machines, search and rescue, and mobility aircraft, as well as ISR platforms.
