March 29, 2024

Morning Coffee: DOD Budget Cuts Vs. Capability

aircraft carrier

Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Leader’s owners or staff.Morning Coffee logo

Defense News has provided a commentary on how the Navy can find a balance between developing a future military capable of meeting emerging security threats while absorbing ongoing budget cuts. While many analysts agree that a reduction in aircraft carriers is necessary, they also advocate a flattop “rebirth” through an investment in new unmanned carrier-based aircraft.  Stealthy unmanned combat aircraft systems (UCAS) would be able to perform strike and surveillance missions over long ranges and allow aircraft carriers to maintain a military presence and respond effectively in multiple regions. The proposed UCAS solution differs from current DOD programs aimed at developing an unmanned carrier-launched airborne surveillance and strike (UCLASS) aircraft, which is primarily a surveillance asset and is not a long-range strike platform.

DefSec Chuck Hagel explained to troops on Tuesday that military compensation reductions he has proposed is partly an effort to keep them safe, reports the Military Times. The cuts include the first-ever housing allowance rollback, slashes to military commissary subsidies and new Tricare fees with the savings designated to maintaining high readiness levels and buying expensive weapon systems that provide America’s technical advantage. Mr. Hagel told officers and enlisted airmen at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA, “I would never put any of you in harm’s way without the very best training, equipment, modernization and support.”

Lockheed Martin has secretly developed a solution to the high profile inability of stealthy F-22 and F-35 fighters to datalink to each other, or legacy fighters, reports Aviation Week. The defense giant recently demonstrated the new datalink which, if deployed, will enhance the effectiveness of the fighters in an air battle.

The Navy believes there will be a need to increase its presence in the Arctic as the ice sheets continue to melt, reports National Defense. However, additional Navy involvement in the north is not expected to be necessary until after 2020 stated the “U.S. Navy Arctic Roadmap: 2014-2030” report released Feb. 24. Rear Adm. Jonathan White, oceanographer of the Navy, said, “Ice in the Arctic has been receding faster than we previously thought back in 2009. It was a new record for ice melt in 2012, and it offers an increase in activity.” Currently the Navy’s primary Arctic involvement is submarine operations, but as oil exploration and recovery, commerce and tourism activity increases in response to newly available waterways, naval involvement in the area will grow.

Frank Kendall, a Pentagon acquisition executive, said that the Pentagon overstated the effects of the sequester’s spending cuts in previous years, according to Government Executive. “What we did in ’13 was sort of the death of a 1,000 cuts,” Kendall said, indicating that spending cuts were made across the board, but none made a significantly negative impact. The use of previously unused funds helped mitigate sequestration impacts.

Millions of veterans who use the Veterans Health Administration system for medical care will be receiving new identification cards, reports the Military Times. The Veterans Health Identification Cards, or VHICs, will be issued to vets new to the system, and the VA will start mailing current vets the new cards in April through July. The new id cards provide updated security measures and no longer contain personal information such as Social Security numbers and date of birth.

The Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland and Rideshare are promoting vanpooling as a NAS Pax River commuting option, according to dcmilitary.com. Vanpooling, defined as seven or more people, can reduce commuting tension and is the only current option for Pax River employees to receive a government-sanctioned incentive of $130 a month to help offset associated commuting costs. Upcoming road projects affecting MD Routes 4 and 235, now in planning stages, is another incentive to avoid single occupancy commuting.

Cmdr. Dennis Volpe, commanding officer of the frigate Taylor, was removed from command in response to the ship running aground Feb. 12 in Turkey, according to the Navy Times. The ship was in the area to provide security at the Winter Olympics. A Navy spokesman indicated that no large errors were identified in Cmdr. Volpe’s role but, “When something like this happens, the ability for him to maintain command is going to be questioned.”

 

 

 
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