Inside the Air Force highlights

By John Liang / November 24, 2017 at 7:00 AM

Some must-reads from this week's issue of Inside the Air Force:

1. Concerned that the Navy and Air Force are deferring F-35 ramp-up plans to future years due to budget constraints, Senate appropriators are recommending boosts to the services' Joint Strike Fighter procurement accounts and are encouraging the two services to buy the jets at higher rates.

Full story: Senate appropriators direct USAF, Navy to stick to F-35 procurement plans

2. Senate appropriators are pushing the Air Force to recapitalize its legacy E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System with a new aircraft, and suggest the Army be considered to run an alternative JSTARS follow-on acquisition if the Air Force changes its current plan to replace the platform.

Full story: Lawmakers to DOD: Consider Army-run acquisition if JSTARS strategy changes

3. The Senate Appropriations Committee's version of fiscal year 2018 spending legislation would cut $50 million from the Air Force's Space-Based Infrared System program, add $100 million to launch vehicle development efforts and direct the service secretary to reexamine current recapitalization plans that call for "near-simultaneous" modernization across the Air Force's space portfolio.

Full story: Senate appropriators propose cuts to SBIRS, staggered space recap strategy

4. Senate appropriators want to add $92.3 million to modernize the Air Force's Distributed Common Ground System on top of the program's fiscal year 2018 funding request.

Full story: Appropriators offer DCGS more modernization money, request future plan

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