Former SECAF Wynne: Gates Cuts Leading to ‘Strategic Drawdown’

In an op/ed piece for dodbuzz.com, former Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne argues that last week's acquisition decisions by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, mark a dangerous "strategic drawdown" of US forces.

Specifically the decision not to procure more F-22s, in combination with cuts in other modernization programs, "further reduce the ability of the US to maintain a strategic lead in the development and production of power projection forces for the US and allied forces."

He goes on: "We are now entering a period of strategic pause in which others can enhance their ability to undercut the capabilities of the existing power projection forces

[...]

In other words, the F-22 termination is a symbolic decision that forecasts a different approach to our international involvement in the future. The waning of independent action and the rise of consensus action is upon us".

Read the entire op/ed article at dodbuzz.com.

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Also this week, in an interview with Reuters, Wynne threw his support behind a proposal to split the KC-X buy between Boeing and EADS/Northrop Grumman. Defense Secretary Gates has always opposed a split buy, arguing it would "add to Air Force logistics, training and support costs". Yesterday, he went even further and claimed a split buy "would drive up program costs by as much as $14 billion."

But Wynne, a longtime Pentagon acquisition official, said he firmly believed that any contract award to just one would certainly be protested, which could delay the program for another year. He called the competition "a white hot poker."
Read more about the KC-X interview at Reuters.com

• Boeing |
• EADS |
• NorthropGrumman |
• contract |
• modernization

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