The Air Force likely has more than it needs in its tactical airlift fleet, which means it could be targeted for future right-sizing, according to the service’s comptroller.
Air Force Acting Under Secretary and Assistant Secretary for Financial Management and Comptroller Jamie Morin said yesterday at an Air Force Association breakfast in Arlington, Va., as the Air Force shrinks in size, a key challenge is figuring out how to operationalize that smaller force to prevent it from hollowing out.
“In most mission areas, our supply forces are basically aligned with the demand signal,” Morin said, adding the tanker fleet is “just exactly right-sized” to support the Joint force.
“We do see on the tactical airlift fleet, perhaps some excessive capacity,” Morin continued.
Morin said in the fiscal year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, which was recently signed into law, Congress directed the Air Force to maintain an additional 32 C-130s beyond the total force proposal the Defense Department sent to Congress. Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said yesterday 326 intra-theater airlift aircraft were proposed in the total force proposal and the fiscal year 2013 NDAA added 32 aircraft to that program of record. Stefanek said the USAF is now required to maintain 358 intra-theater airlift aircraft–the floor Morin referred to.
Stefanek said the FY ’13 NDAA required the Air Force to add 32 aircraft to the total force proposal, either C-27s or C-130s, but the USAF is still planning to divest the C-27J. The Air Force will add C-130s to maintain that 358.
“That is an area where we do see some excess capacity,” Morin said. “But we also understand the Congressional intent and the right of that legislation. They’ve laid out a floor for us for 2013 and we will certainly comply with that.”
Morin also said the Air Force is focusing on modernizing its munitions enterprise. Orin said getting munitions, especially air-to-air and air-to-ground, ready is key.
“The need for modernization is growing,” Morin said. “We know we can’t defer modernization until the next uptick in defense spending.”