The House Appropriations Committee (HAC) approved a $140 million cut to the Air Force’s Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) program when it passed its version of the fiscal year 2016 defense spending bill on June 2.
HAC recommended providing $88 million while the Air Force requested $228 million. The committee said in the report accompanying the bill that it is concerned the Air Force is using space modernization initiative (SMI) funding to begin and sustain new development programs. HAC said it believes that SMI funding should be used to make evolutionary upgrades to existing programs to enhance mission effectiveness and avoid parts obsolescence.
The committee said the Air Force, over the last few years, has attempted to begin next generation technologies using SMI funds within the AEHF and Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) programs. HAC recommends the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) assess the operational impacts and approve the requirements; the Air Force secretary complete an analysis of alternatives and the director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) certify that the new program is cost-effective.
“Until these actions have been completed, funding for these efforts is premature,” HAC said.
AEHF provides vastly improved global, survivable, protected satellite communications (SATCOM) capabilities for strategic command and tactical warfighters operating on ground, sea and air platforms, according to prime contractor Lockheed Martin [LMT]. The jam-resistant system also serves international partners, including Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Lockheed Martin is under contract to deliver six AEHF satellites and the mission control segment. The program has begun production of the fifth and sixth satellites and initial operational capability (IOC) of the system is planned for mid-2015. The last AEHF satellite, AEHF-3, was launched in September 2013. AEHF-4 is scheduled to launch in 2017.
The committee also proposes a nearly 43 percent cut to the Air Force’s nearly $103 million request for the Presidential Aircraft Replacement (PAR) program, also known as the new Air Force One. HAC recommends approximately $59 million for the program, saying it defers funding for initiating procurement of a commercial aircraft until the design for the aircraft’s mission systems, which constitute a majority of the program’s projected cost, benefits from further risk reduction activities. It also wants the Air Force to finalize an acquisition strategy.
The Air Force in January selected Boeing [BA] to build the new Air Force One. Boeing will modify a 747-800 series commercial airliner. The service expects the first aircraft being delivered for modification in 2018 with initial operational capability (IOC) expected during FY ’23.