Path to Precision
Fighter jets continue to get top priority in the Air Force's proposed $53.6 billion acquisition budget for fiscal 2005. The service also will invest heavily in precision weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles, and communication systems and satellites.
Marvin Sambur, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, says last year's war in Iraq confirmed that the service has been "on the right path" with its spending. He cited the success of highly accurate bombs, such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition, valuable intelligence gathered by the Predator unmanned aerial vehicle, and the heavy use of C-17 transport aircraft during the conflict.
Still, Sambur concedes the past year has been tough for the Air Force acquisition community. In the spring, former Air Force acquisition executive Darleen Druyun pleaded guilty to conspiracy for negotiating a post-government job with Boeing Co. while still managing weapons contracts.
As a result, the Pentagon inspector general is reviewing nearly all major Air Force acquisition contracts awarded in recent years for any signs of favoritism.
"What really hurts is just because you work in acquisition you are characterized as being under that cloud," Sambur says, adding the Air Force will follow any IG recommendations about possibly renegotiating contracts if abuse is found. "We want to do the right thing. If there are issues, then we are not afraid to show [the IG]," he says.
Already, the Air Force has reopened negotiations with Boeing over a contract for modernizing NATO's Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft. Druyun approved a revision to the initial $500 million AWACS modernization contract that gave Boeing $800 million in additional work, even though the project was behind schedule and over budget.
The Air Force's top three weapons programs for 2005 are aircraft: $4.7 billion to develop and buy 24 F/A-22 Raptors, $4 billion to develop and buy 14 C-17 cargo planes, and $2.3 billion to develop Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter.
Sambur says the F/A-22 has overcome stability and software problems and the service's next-generation fighter will begin to be fielded in early 2005. "That's not to say we won't have hiccups, but the hiccups will be minimal," he maintains.
The Air Force continues to upgrade its unmanned aerial vehicles rather than develop new ones. "This is not a new interest," says Sambur. The Air Force plans to spend $695 million to develop the advanced, high-altitude, long-endurance Global Hawk UAVs and add four to the fleet. It will spend $227 million to upgrade the medium-endurance Predator UAVs and buy nine more. By 2010, a third of the deep-strike planes are expected to be drone aircraft.
The Air Force continues to lead the military in spending on space systems. It will spend $710 million to develop Advanced High Frequency Satellites for secure communications, $638 million to acquire the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle and $508 million to develop the Space Based Infrared Systems-High satellites for missile defense.
Sambur says the Air Force would like to upgrade its tanker aircraft, some of which are 45 years old. But a proposed multibillion-dollar plan to lease new refueling planes from Boeing has been held up by Congress because of concerns that it might not be a good deal. "The Air Force's preference is to get the tankers as soon possible," Sambur says.
The Air Force is studying alternatives to leasing the planes, such as overhauling and upgrading existing tankers or building new ones. Sambur says the "analysis of alternatives" will be complete in late fall, and the Air Force expects to include an acquisition proposal in next year's budget.