House panel skeptical of Navy's analysis of strike fighter shortfall

The House Armed Services tactical air and land forces subcommittee is skeptical of the Navy's analysis that shows the service will close its strike fighter shortfall within five years, according to a House staffer.

In its mark of the fiscal year 2022 defense policy bill, the subcommittee is asking the Government Accountability Office to review the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps tactical aircraft portfolio.

A committee aide said this morning the subcommittee is particularly interested in how the Navy thinks it can eliminate the shortfall in five years.

"We are kind of scratching our heads on how the Navy moved up their analysis in terms of eliminating the shortfall by about five years. One, they didn't reinstate the 36 aircraft Super Hornets that they were going to procure in '22, '23, '24," the aide said.

The Navy took out about 104 aircraft out of a service modification program, the aide noted.

"With us not being able to see their [future years defense program] numbers, we're kind of skeptical to understand how the Navy manipulated the data and their analysis to bring the shortfall to resolve five years earlier, 2025," the aide said.