NEWS FLASH!
From Aerospace Daily…
Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England has halted the U.S. Air Force’s controversial push to take over management of the Pentagon’s growing Unmanned Air System (UAS) fleet. USAF Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley made the proposal in a March 5 memo to take over management of all Pentagon UAS programs. It was met with ire from officials in the Army and Navy.
More from Amy Butler’s Aerospace Daily report…
Predator and Sky Warrior are the only programs directly mentioned in his Sept. 13 memo to the services and civilian Pentagon offices. “The Predator and Sky Warrior programs will be combined into a single acquisition program, to include a common data link, in order to achieve common development, procurement, sustainment and training activities,” England says. The contract merger should be complete by October 2008, he says. England does not suggest which service should lead this effort.
In lieu of forming an executive agency in the Air Force, England directs that an interagency task force will address how to promote interoperability and efficient operations of UASs.
This decision also relieves the Navy of concerns that the Air Force could subsume oversight of its high-dollar UAS contracts — including the Unmanned Combat Air System-Demonstrator recently awarded to Northrop Grumman and a soon-to-be-decided Broad Area Maritime Surveillance contract.
(Gouge: NC)
I am a retired USAFR who had the fortune of closely working (@ DLA) with all military agencies, government civilian, and contractors. Everyone exhibited a comaderrie and loyalty and love to our freedom, respect for the individual, and the opportunity to excel.
Without a doubt, the prevailing conditions are providing chanllenges to commands because of the joint nature of our missions. Resources are limited and it is evident that duplication of these resources causes a huge limitations in mission accomplishment, specially, when asking for more funding from congress.
The BRAC 2005 will ease this by consolidating training in the medical field, transportation, and food services. Contractors hire employees from all military services and works fine.
Time is coming when we will have a WAR DEPARTMENT to direct all functions in Logistics, Operations, Medical, Facilities and Welfare to satisfy a Joint Force. (maybe another 20 years)
I spent tine in the Balkans and IRAQ. Made great friends and we worked together as ONE!
A Kosovar once told me: “Miguel, how come you all lokk different, argue, and have guns, but don’t shoot each other? I looked staight at his eyes and said: Is Democracy! The right of the majority and respect for the minorities.
A tall salute for all members, specially THE MARINES. I had the Honor to see how humble and dignify they stand to make the other bastard sacrifice for their cause.
My Salute to all!
MAFERRER, MSGT, USAFR
Retired
Well, if the army gets UAV’s (which are planes) then the Air Force should get tanks,and ships too. Lets make it fair. Seriously thats why we made an AIR force!
Why do we even have an Air Force if the Navy,Marines and Army all have helicopters and UAV planes and do many of the same missions?
We have forgotten why we made an Air Force. Lets go back to the old way, call it the Army Air Corps and every fifty years change it again because we have forgoten by then why we did it.
PS– I am in the Air Force.