Copyright 2002 eMediaMillWorks, Inc.
(f/k/a Federal
Document Clearing House, Inc.)
Federal Document Clearing House
Congressional Testimony
March 21, 2002 Thursday
SECTION: CAPITOL HILL HEARING TESTIMONY
LENGTH: 3526 words
COMMITTEE:
SENATE ARMED SERVICES
SUBCOMMITTEE:
READINESS
HEADLINE: FISCAL 2003 DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION:
READINESS
TESTIMONY-BY: LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHARLES F.
WALD, DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF,
AFFILIATION: AIR &
SPACE OPERATIONS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
BODY:
STATEMENT OF:
LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHARLES F. WALD DEPUTY CHIEF OF
STAFF, AIR & SPACE OPERATIONS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
WRITTEN
STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD SASC (Readiness Sub-Committee)
21 March 2002
Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, thank you for this opportunity
to provide you with the status of Air Force readiness. As the Air Force's Deputy
Chief of Staff, Air & Space Operations, I want to thank you for your
continued focus on the readiness challenges facing the men and women in our
great Air Force today. We have the most respected air and space force in the
world, and we are transforming our service into the new century while
maintaining global readiness and warfighting capabilities to support America's
National Security Strategy. OVERALL
From the Korean Peninsula to Kabul,
across every continent and over all bodies of water, Air Force civilian, Active
Duty, Guard, and Reserve forces continue to execute their global missions. We
had a busy year. The Air Force flew over 1,000 sorties over the former
Yugoslavia, enforcing no-fly zones. In Southwest Asia, a continuous steadyforce
presence of more than 8,000 airmen supported Operations NORTHERN WATCH and
SOUTHERN WATCH, flying 70% of all coalition sorties. The Air Force continued
support in the ongoing war on drugs over the Caribbean and South America,
contributing to the seizure of over 75,000 kilos of narcotics. Natural disasters
in India, Central America, South America, and the United States saw Air Force
personnel and equipment transporting relief supplies, providing medical support
and assisting in engineering projects.
The Total Air Force Team was one
of the very first to respond to the attacks of September 11th, and that response
continues unabated. Both Operations NOBLE EAGLE and ENDURING FREEDOM have seen
airmen along with our sister Services successfully providing humanitarian,
combat, and support operations.
Operational demands on the Air Force
before September 11th were significant. Although we reached significant
milestones in terms of reducing the effects of high tempo operations, the advent
of war impacted many of those gains.
Our situation is more complicated
since our aircraft fleet is older and more expensive to maintain.
Recapitalization of our airframes and weapons systems is a partial solution. The
Air Force is hoping to upgrade our infrastructure and physical plant, which
includes sustainment, restoration,
modernization,
transportation, support equipment, and communications systems. With the help of
Congress, we have made considerable progress in addressing pay, benefits, and
quality of life issues--improved investments for our people.
We are
hopeful that our readiness rates bottomed out in February 2001 at 65%.
Fortunately, we've improved to 71 % this year. While this is a marked increase,
there's more to do. Whether it's well- stocked bins, improved depot maintenance,
or available state-of- the-art equipment, improvements are needed. The Air Force
is pursuing improvements across all core competencies, for our equipment,
organizations, and personnel. A readied force is the key to meeting the threats
and challenges of the future.
AIR AND SPACE SUPERIORITY
The Air
Force is investing in a range of systems encompassed in the entire
Find-FixTrack-Target-Engage-Assess (F2T2EA) kill chain. Our legacy air-to-air
platforms continue to be key to this process. We continue to pursue
modernization of F-15 and F 16 radars, engines, and enhanced
combat capability to ensure near- term fleet maintenance and air superiority in
the air-to-air combat environment. We have made advances with the Joint Helmet
Mounted Sight and the AIM-9X and Aim-120 nextgeneration air-to- air missiles.
Our greatest advantage with current systems is our robust training and exercise
program and access to 41 combat ranges, essential to our airmen for effective
training, equipment development, and experience building.
Several
electronic warfare programs support self-defense against enemy air defense
systems. For example, the Comet Pod infrared (IR) countermeasures system will
provide pre-emptive protection for the A-10 against IR surface-to-air missiles
(SAMs), enhancing survivability in the A-10's low-altitude close air support
role. The Air Force is also addressing multiple Combat Mission Needs Statements
and accelerating ramp-up for production of an IR flare, responding to today's
air war threat in Afghanistan and providing protection to special operations
aircraft in combat zones. The Air Force is putting much emphasis on
countermeasures to protect fighters and bombers from advanced SAM threats while
increasing the viability and lethality of current platforms to conduct
operations in the modern radio frequency (RF) threat arena. We have numerous,
much-needed enhancements on the horizon for the critical Combat Search and
Rescue (CSAR) mission.
The Air Force is the designated Executive Agent
for Space and has begun integrating systems acquisition with operations. To aid
in this, the Air Force realigned the Space and Missile Systems Center from Air
Force Materiel Command to Air Force Space Command. The Air Force accomplished
the first National Security Space Program Assessment and will use it to draft
our first National Security Space Plan later this year.
The Spacelift
Range System
modernization program is replacing aging and
nonsupportable equipment, improving reliability and efficiency, and reducing the
cost of operations at the Eastern and Western launch ranges. Coupled with the
Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, the Air Force will meet the
future launch demands of national security, civil, and commercial payloads.
INFORMATION SUPERIORITY
Success in achieving information
superiority requires an effects- based approach, superior battlespace awareness,
well integrated planning and execution, and properly trained and equipped
information operations (10) organization. These ensure our information systems
are free from attack while retaining the freedom to attack an adversary's
systems. In coordination with Joint Forces, the Air Force engages in the daily
conduct of 10 functions across the spectrum of military operations, providing
security to our Air Force commanders, Joint Forces CINCs, and multinational
forces.
Our operational and tactical command and control (C2) airborne
platforms and ground assets are in great demand and are in various upgrade
stages. Our Air and space Operations Centers (AOC), with its decentralized
component Control Reporting Centers (CRC) and Theater Battle Management Core
Systems (TBMCS), create a comprehensive awareness of the battlespace so that the
Joint Forces Air and Space Component Commander (JFACC) can task and execute the
most complex air and space operations across the entire spectrum of conflict.
During Operations NOBLE EAGLE (ONE) and ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF), TBMCS was
rapidly deployed to support both CENTCOM and NORAD operations centers. TBMCS
will evolve into an open-ended architecture capable of interfacing with a
variety of joint and coalition databases, displays, and links.
Throughout 2001, the Air Force aggressively addressed the need to
standardize C2 of air and space forces. Our focus is to refine the AOC into a
standardized weapon system with properly trained operators, improving its
ability to meet worldwide requirements. Supporting ONE and OEF validated our
strategic vision for C2 systems. We will continue to develop the AOC, keeping it
on course to revolutionize the operational level of warfare.
The
Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) remains our premier air battle
management and wide-area surveillance platform. Several upgrade programs are
necessary to address aging aircraft issues, obsolete technologies, and the
proliferation of advanced adversary systems. This year, one third of the AWACS
fleet completed an improved radar system upgrade, which will reach full
operational capability in FY05. The next upgrade will replace 1970-vintage
processors and a satellite communications access program will improve
connectivity with regional and national C2 centers.
Our limited numbers
of airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems are in
high demand. The RC-135 Rivet Joint, U-2, Distributed Common Ground System
(DCGS), and Predator and Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have proven
indispensable during OEF and the expanding war on terrorism by providing
real-time target data, threat warning, and battle damage assessment. The Joint
Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) will see significant upgrades
to its computer systems by 2005 while recapitalization and
modernization efforts promise to keep the RC-135 Rivet Joint
and U-2 viable well into the 21St Century.
We are committed to the
production and fielding of Global Hawk as the next generation high altitude
airborne ISR platform. In the spring of 2001, Global Hawk successfully completed
a deployment to Australia, supporting maritime reconnaissance and achieving the
first trans-Pacific crossing. Global Hawk was also deployed in support of OEF
and with advanced sensor development underway, will be able to better support
the time-critical targeting mission. Demands for the older Predator UAV remain
high. In FY02, the Air Force will double Predator aircraft production,
accelerating to two aircraft per month, adding 40 additional aircraft to the
current inventory. The Air Force will also stand up a third Predator squadron
and begin weaponizing the fleet.
The Multi-Platform Radar Technology
Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) will allow larger and enhanced air-to-ground
surveillance capabilities on a variety of platforms, to include Global Hawk, and
potentially a NATO-manned platform variant.
Achieving information
superiority depends considerably on the availability of a robust worldwide
communications capability. Tremendous efforts are underway to modernize Military
Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) systems to keep up with demands.
The scope and speed of joint operations, including OEF, simply would not
be possible without MILSATCOM systems such as the Defense Satellite
Communications System (DSCS) and the Military Strategic and Tactical Relay
System (MILSTAR). The Air Force awarded a System Development and Demonstration
contract in November 2001 to design the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF)
satellite system, an eventual replacement for the MILSTAR constellation
beginning in 2006.
The Air Force is combining efforts with the other
services to form the joint Global Information Grid (GIG), allowing warfighters,
policymakers, and support personnel access to information on demand. During OEF
operations, deployable communications packages were successfully connected to
the GIG to support combat operations. GLOBAL ATTACK
The Air Force
creates desired effects within hours of tasking, anywhere on the globe,
including locations deep within an adversary's territory. Our B-1, B-2, and B-52
bombers provide the global rapid response, precision and standoff strike
capability, 24/7 battlespace persistence, and a time-critical targeting
capability. These platforms now carry the highly accurate 2000- pound Joint
Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and are being fitted to carry new standoff
precision guided weapons. Future integration will see inclusion of smaller
precision weapons. Until the F-22, Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), and Unmanned
Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) become an operational part of the inventory, the
Air Force continues to rely on its legacy fighters (F-15, F-16, F-117, and A-10)
to provide the air-to-air and air-to-ground capability.
Consistent with
recent DOD Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) direction, the Air Force is providing
for long-term sustainment of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)
capabilities. Minuteman III (MMIII) ICBMs will be deployed through 2020 and
supported by on-going life-extension programs, while Peacekeeper (PK) ICBMs will
be retired beginning this year. As the PK system is deactivated, the Air Force
intends to transfer some warheads currently on PK to the MMIII, thereby avoiding
a costly life-extension program on certain MMIII warheads.
PRECISION
ENGAGEMENT
The Air Force made significant progress in developing and
fielding a new generation of weapons that can attack and destroy pinpoint,
hardened, and relocatable targets at night and in most weather conditions while
greatly reducing the risk to operators. By rapidly adapting new technology
employed under actual combat conditions in Operations ALLIED FORCE and ENDURING
FREEDOM, we now have an array of precision weapons that can be employed from
nearly all our combat aircraft. These programs include the Joint Standoff Weapon
(JSOW), Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), and Wind Corrected Munitions
Dispenser (WCMD).
From the Balkans to Kabul, combatant commanders
required precision capability, not large-scale conventional operations. However,
this demand reduced our large Cold War reserve munitions stockpiles. OEF
requirements have depleted preferred precision munitions stockpiles. The
President's budget for FY02 together with supplemental requests provided over
$
1 billion to increase the industrial capacity to produce
precision weapons and to procure additional weapons. The FY03 Program/budget
review also added funding to ensure that this increased production would be
sustained. It is unlikely that we will be forced to source assets from other
Theaters, which would increase the risk to potential operations elsewhere. The
Air Force is working to increase precisionguided munitions (PGM) capabilities
over the next several years.
Precision strike, however, is more than
simply very accurate munitions. It is also the ability to generate precise
effects other than destruction. The Air Force is investing in various non-lethal
weapons, offensive information warfare capabilities, and directed energy weapons
to enable our military to affect targets without having to destroy them.
RAPID GLOBAL MOBILITY
Airlift and tanker aircraft give the
United States the ability to swiftly reach out and influence events around the
world. OEF and ONE have again shown the utility of rapid global mobility. We
witnessed the potential need to provide critical tactical lift capability for
immediate response at home. Air Mobility Command is undergoing comprehensive
review of the air mobility force structure as part of an on-going effort to
assess airlift requirements.
The procurement of additional C-17s will
ensure the Air Force's ability to support its 54.5 million-ton miles per day
airlift requirement. The Air Force needs at least 180 C17s and will award a
follow-on multi-year procurement contract to reach that number. Beddown plans
will be conducted by Active, Reserve, and Guard forces.
The average age
of our KC-135 tankers is now over 41 years and operations and support costs are
escalating due to a variety of factors. Pacer CRAG (compass, radar, and global
positioning system) is a major overhaul project underway for all Air Force KC-
135s, meeting the congressionally mandated requirement to install GPS in all
Defense Department aircraft. The ongoing war on terrorism is further stretching
the tanker fleet, motivating consideration of accelerating replacement options.
The Air Force is focused on acquiring the world's newest and most capable tanker
while increasing availability, fuel load, and reliability all with far lower
cost.
Modernization of the C-5 and
C-130 fleets is a top priority. Avionics
modernization, re-engining programs, and multi-year testing
will bring the fleet up to an improved standard while determining the need for
additional C-17s or alternatives. New
C-130Js will replace EC-1
30Es, the most worn- out C-1 30E combat delivery aircraft, Commando Solo
platforms, and several WC-130H aircraft throughout the Active Duty, Guard, and
Reserve units.
Additional upgrades and improvements to counter-measure
defenses, CV-22, and VIP Special Air Mission/Operational Support Airlift are
also planned.
AGILE COMBAT SUPPORT
Much of the deployment strain
in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM has fallen on our expeditionary combat
support forces. Some high-demand support areas have exceeded their on-call
capabilities in current AEF rotation cycles, as a result of our surge mode
activities, which are likely to continue for some time. Some Expeditionary
Combat Support career fields, particularly Security Forces, Combat
Communications, and Fire Fighters, are highly stressed. Consequently, we are
continuing to make gains in right-sizing deployment teams so that they are
postured efficiently and effectively for expeditionary needs.
The
fielding of the Integrated Deployment System at all Wings has improved the
readiness of the Wing deployment process. The CSAF's Logistics Review (CLR) and
ongoing logistics transformation are reengineering our logistics processes to
achieve an agile, effective, and well-integrated logistics chain responsive to
AEF requirements. Other initiatives within the nuclear-biological- chemical and
medical units are producing meaningful results.
PEOPLE
People
are the most critical component of readiness and our most vital resource. As
they perform Air Force missions around the world, the demands we place on them
require highly motivated, highly skilled, professional airmen. Continued
positive momentum in areas of compensation, benefits, recruiting and retention
ensure the investment in our people.
The Air Force has enhanced
responsive force packaging and provided a more stable and predictable deployment
and home station scheduling environment through implementation of the
Expeditionary Air and Space Force (EAF). Air National Guard and Air Force
Reserve participation has steadily increased since DESERT STORM, which has
created challenges for Guardsmen and Reservists balancing civilian careers with
increased military requirements. Trends show demand for air power will only
increase; EAF holds promise by giving airmen predictability and stability.
The increased operations tempo resulting from OEF and ONE are also
reducing necessary training opportunities for the force and are raising
long-term readiness challenges. Many of our low density/high demand assets have
limited flying training capacity. For example, operational demands have
diminished RC-135 Rivet Joint, CSAR, and E-3 AWACS airframe, simulator, and
instructor availability. The increased number of fighters and mobility assets
now on alert and unavailable for continuation/readiness training could have a
serious impact on long-term readiness.
Retention will continue to be a
priority and a challenge. Stop Loss and the increased tempo of ONE and OEF may
have a negative effect on retention--offsets are already being explored.
Aggressive campaigns are being worked to "re-recruit" the force, addressing
especially Battle Managers and other critical skills. While cockpits are now
fully manned, rated pilot staff manning has fallen to 51 %. The USAF pilot
shortage is expected to continue for at least the next eight years until the
effects of the ten-year active duty service commitment for undergraduate flying
training are fully realized. "Re recruiting" efforts should also help alleviate
the shortage sooner.
The Air Force Reserve exceeded Command retention
goals for their enlisted airmen during FY01. Seventy-eight percent of the
enlisted skills are now receiving re enlistment bonuses. The authorization to
pay officer and enlisted critical skills retention bonuses should help retain
individuals in high demand by the civilian sector. The Air National Guard's
number one priority is to increase the traditional pilot force, which has held
steady at 90%. Through various incentive pay programs, the Guard and Reserve
continue to pursue substantial enhancements to increase retention in the
aviation community as well as attracting and retaining individuals to aviation.
Today less than 10% of Air Force civilians are in their first five years
of service. In the next five years, more than 40% will be eligible for optional
or early retirement. In addition, downsizing over the past decade skewed the mix
of civilian workforce skills, compounding the loss of corporate memory and lack
of breadth and depth of experience. It's critical to maintain the right mix of
civilian skills to meet tomorrow's challenges. Several initiatives are underway
to do just that.
SUMMARY
Air Force capabilities provide America
with a unique set of strengths--asymmetric advantages. However, today's
technological advantage is no guarantee of future success. Maintaining the
current leadership position requires addressing aging infrastructure,
modernizing outdated weapon systems and harnessing technology to achieve our
vision.
In closing, today more than 725,000 highly skilled,
professional, Air Force men and women are proudly supporting freedom's cause. We
appreciate all this committee has done in helping to address these critical
issues and look forward to working with you in the future.
LOAD-DATE: March 25, 2002