U.S. shouldn't short-change Air Force of the future
Posted Friday, November 24, 2006 By: AFIT SC

In 2001, the Air Force spent about $100 billion for national defense. That year, on Sept. 11, the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon clarified the terrorist threat and the need for a military response.

In the five years since, defense spending has increased to fight terrorism (including the war in Iraq and Afghanistan). However, as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), funding for the Air Force is at one of its lowest levels in its 60-year history. This funding gap creates a particular hardship on the Air Force, which relies on increasingly expensive technology to maintain military supremacy in the skies, space and cyberspace.

We should all be concerned whether the Air Force budget is adequate. However, as citizens of the Dayton region, we have a special concern because of the importance of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to the nation and to our community.

While Wright-Patterson has a critical role in the immediate war effort, Wright-Patterson also supports the Air Force of the future. If there is a budget crisis in the middle of a war, the deepest cuts could fall here.

Wright-Pat's Aeronautical Systems Center acquires new aircraft. The Air Force Research Laboratory develops technologies for the next generation of weapons systems. The Air Force Institute of Technology gives scientific and technical training to the Air Force officers of tomorrow.
These missions help ensure that the war-fighters of the 21st century will have the tools they need and that the Air Force will remain the best in the world.

A static Air Force budget in a time of increasing war-related expenses can only mean squeezing funding from missions that are more oriented to future military success. As long as our national security requires maintaining troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, Air Force leaders have little choice but to use resources to counter the immediate threat and to defend our personnel in harm's way.

The Air Force currently is flying bombers that are 44 years old, and fighter aircraft that are 23 years old.
The Air Force wants to retire 49 aging tanker aircraft, which would save $1.5 billion during the next five years, but it was denied the request.

To meet current national security demands, the Air Force needs new airlift and tanker capability, and more unmanned air vehicles. It also needs to increase investments in space and cyberspace defense.
Air Force leaders are well aware of the importance of the work that goes on at Wright-Patterson. Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne received his master's degree from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He has supported continued investments in the future of the Air Force.

Through personnel cuts and increased efficiencies, the Air Force is trying to do more with less, and to use the savings for fleet recapitalization. However, as the costs of national defense mount, at some point our leaders can only do less with less. And those cuts could fall hardest on the future-oriented work done at Wright-Patterson.

At a recent conference sponsored by the Air Force Association, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley warned that the Air Force is "struggling with unforeseen and unexpected demands on resources." such as rising costs of fuel, health care and foreign currency exchange rates.
He predicted a budget shortfall of $120 billion in the next six years for the Air Force. That's money that will have to come from somewhere.

Our congressional delegation has done an outstanding job of advocating for Wright-Patterson. Increased Air Force funding would enhance their performance.

Our nation cannot afford to shortchange the Air Force of the future. That can only come with adequate spending on our military today.

Our national defense depends on it. So does Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. And so does the Dayton region.

J.P. Nauseef is president of the Dayton Development Coalition.