Senators press Gates to buy more Super Hornets

[Genetic Defect]

By John T. Bennett - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jan 12, 2009 18:01:18 EST

A dozen U.S. senators, including eight members of the powerful Armed Services and Appropriations committees, are pushing Defense Secretary Robert Gates to buy more Boeing-made F/A-18E/F aircraft.

In a Dec. 11, 2008, letter to Gates, Senate heavyweights Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn.; Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.; John Kerry, D-Mass.; and eight others raised concerns about “a significant shortfall in the number of strike fighter aircraft” capable of operating from aircraft carriers.

“If left unaddressed,” the perceived fighter shortfall “could render hollow a major portion of our aircraft carrier fleet,” according to the letter. “The role played by our aircraft carriers in protecting and promoting America’s interests around the world is too important to permit this to occur.”

Navy Times obtained a copy of the letter.

Senior Navy officials for months have warned about a looming “fighter gap” that could leave the service in need of about 70 more strike fighters by 2017. Other estimates have predicted the services could need up to 200 more fighter aircraft than they are planning to buy under current budget plans.

Left unaddressed, they say, the gap would persist not be closed until the service wraps up its purchase of the Lockheed Martin-made F-35 around 2025, according to Navy officials.

Early last year, Chicago-based Boeing responded to the Navy pronouncements with a proposal to fill the so-called “fighter gap” by floating the idea that the Chicago-based company could easily sell the sea service more F/A-18E/F Super Hornets under a new multiyear contract.

“As the Defense Department continues its preparation of the fiscal year 2010 budget, we express our strong support for the continued procurement of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to address the Navy’s strike fighter shortfall and believe the department needs to considering procuring at a greater rate than the program of record,” said the senators’ letter.

The senators’ letter urges Gates to consider using a multiyear procurement contract to buy the requested F/A-18E/Fs because of the “potential savings” such a plan would bring.

The last batch of Super Hornets cost the Navy about $53.8 million a plane. Boeing said it could get that down to about $49.9 million a jet under a new multiyear contract.

The letter included signatures of Democratic Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, Wash.; Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.; and Barbara Mikulski, Md.

Republican Sens. Sam Brownback, Kan.; George Voinovich, Ohio; and Christopher Bond, Mo., also signed on.

Eight of those senators sit on committees that have a say over military programs. Lieberman, Kennedy and McCaskill are Armed Services Committee members. Bond, Brownback, Feinstein and Murray sit on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Lieberman’s support could be key. Since Democrats took control of Congress in 2007, he has chaired the Armed Services air land subcommittee. He also sits on the seapower subcommittee.

But Lieberman fell out of favor with many Democrats by campaigning for Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate in 2008. Democratic leaders, since the November election, have been mulling calls to strip him of his panel chairmanships.

There is support in both chambers for the Hornet plan. The senators’ letter was sent to the Pentagon five days before nearly two dozen U.S. House members sent a similar missive to Gates that was first reported by The Hill in a report Tuesday.

[rizzle]

And your point is???

[Genetic Defect]

Originally Posted by rizzle

And your point is???

you like guys

[hotreds]

HOORAH!

[Genetic Defect]

Originally Posted by hotreds

HOORAH!

I was missing visuals wasnt I

[rizzle]

Hornets?

[Genetic Defect]

Originally Posted by rizzle

Hornets?

those are regular not super

[rizzle]

Originally Posted by Big Vito

those are regular not super

Okay...Asian Giant Hornet.



That there is a SUPER hornet.

[mosesbotbol]

Raptor is a cooler looking plane. I'd rather see more of those...

[rizzle]

You're going to anger Vito, moses.

[Genetic Defect]

Originally Posted by rizzle

You're going to anger Vito, moses.

Vito Moses, who is that and why is he angry?

[rizzle]

Originally Posted by Big Vito

Vito Moses, who is that

This is him.

and why is he angry?

Dunno. Maybe because somebody stole the bed off his truck???

[Genetic Defect]

Originally Posted by rizzle

This is him.





Dunno. Maybe because somebody stole the bed off his truck???

I don't blame him.

I mean what on earth is able to hang with a super hornet?

I never got the F22 JSF program myself don't get me wrong it's a better fighter but the cost and, I kinda don't see a reason, then again armchair leaders always have hind sight on their side.

I see the super hornet as a great plane for what it is and out classing any thing in the world, for a lot less then a F22.

[hotreds]

Hornet= Navy; Super Hornet not outdated like early Hornet models.
F-22= Air Force- best fighter in the world.
JSF= F-35 with Air Force, Navy and Marine models. Not yet on line. F-35 Navy model to replace early legacy Hornet models. Super Hornet will continue to fly. Air Force F-35 to replace F-15, altho early 15s being retired and replaced by Strike Eagles. Marine F-35 to replace Harrier.

[Genetic Defect]

I did get this off a Marines news feed

[lenguamor]

Originally Posted by hotreds

Hornet= Navy; Super Hornet not outdated like early Hornet models.
F-22= Air Force- best fighter in the world.
JSF= F-35 with Air Force, Navy and Marine models. Not yet on line. F-35 Navy model to replace early legacy Hornet models. Super Hornet will continue to fly. Air Force F-35 to replace F-15, altho early 15s being retired and replaced by Strike Eagles. Marine F-35 to replace Harrier.

Thank you, that's clearer.

I think the F-35 program is amazing; one air platform that will serve , what - three, four functions, plus Great Britain's fighter needs?

What I like about the F-22 is that even though it is a fighter, it's really not a fair fighter.

It's so stealthy that it will detect enemy fighters, lock on and fire weapons before the other fighter even knows it's there.

[Genetic Defect]

here is some Air Force news:

U.S. to send 12 F-16s to South Korea
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jan 14, 2009 11:53:05 EST

SEOUL, South Korea — The United States will deploy 12 F-16 fighter jets to South Korea to replace a fleet of Apache helicopters bound for Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. and South Korean military officials said Tuesday.

The U.S. had planned to send 12 A-10 attack aircraft to South Korea to temporarily replace 20 Apache attack helicopters headed for redeployment in Iraq and Afghanistan. But two sides changed that plan because of required maintenance for the A-10 aircraft, South Korea’s Defense Ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae told reporters.

The F-16s will be in place in March before the Apache helicopters depart to ensure no gap in capability, the U.S military said.

“Due to increased requirements for inspections and repairs to the A-10 fleet, the F-16s will be deployed rotationally to Korea instead of the previously announced A-10 rotation,” the military said in a statement.

Army Gen. Walter Sharp, commander of U.S. forces in Korea, said the deployment of F-16s “will provide an enhanced deterrent capability on the Korean peninsula,” it said.

The U.S. military said it remains committed to the defense of South Korea. Washington has about 28,500 troops in the South as a deterrent against communist North Korea.

The two Koreas technically remain at war because their 1950-53 Korean conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.